Inequality is transmitted across generations, with the children of rich parents doing better than those from poorer households. But why is this? One factor that can exacerbate it is the level of sorting in society. If wealthy and educated people form households with other wealthy, educated people, they can transmit a double dose of advantage to their children. Some of this advantage could even be genetic - for example, height is influenced by genes, and tall people do well in the labour market.

We'll look at how people "assort" with others, including whether people are genetically similar to their partners. This will help us understand how inequality works in the UK - and how the process may change over time, as marriage and labour market institutions alter.