Guardian columnist, senior economics commentator and host of the new Radical Thinking podcast Aditya Chakrabortty is answering your questions on the big ideas around economics, society and democracy, and his new podcastSend your questions to conversations@theguardian.com or join the discussion on Friday from 8amredstar1000 asks: Britain has some of the highest levels of deprivation in Europe. Millions of people in one of the richest countries in the world cannot eat well, keep their homes warm and take part in social life. Why is this seen as acceptable? Where is the moral outrage?Aditya says: This is a great question that chimes with the one above. I share your outrage and so do others. Confronted with the situation you describe - around 300,000 households in England homeless, many of them with children - in one of the richest societies in human history, they would agree this is unacceptable, outrageous. But in a highly-unequal country, not everyone sees or feels or even brushes against this deprivation.Aditya says: In truth, I think the UK is in economic and social collapse – it’s just that some people can’t see it, and others are too polite or arrogant to point it out. But what else should we call the most miserable period for wages and growth since Napoleon Bonaparte was on his horse charging around Europe? The worst decade for living standards since the end of rationing? Shit in our rivers? Joke prime ministers who blunder about, get booted offstage, then earn £££s? And no, not just Liz Truss, but Cameron and Johnson too. The reason this isn’t recognised is because Britain is a highly unequal country where pain is heaped on those most hurt. Even in a collapsing country, some people always do well. Look at Argentina in the 1990s/2000s for an example. Continue reading...