Why did Britain’s households get richer? Decomposing UK household income growth between 1968 and 2008–09?

Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis for the Resolution Foundation Commission on Living Standards.

Average UK household income has almost doubled in real terms over the past forty years. This report asks ‘From where has the growth in household income come?’ and answers this by analysing the various factors that have contributed to this growth. Although many of these have been analysed individually, this is the first detailed study of their relative importance.