Families in the UK are nearly £9,000 worse off compared to households in other comparable nations, according to new research.

A study published by the Resolution Foundation think tank and London School of Economics (LSE) estimates that the income of the typical low-and-middle-earning family is a third less – or £8,800 worse off – than in comparable nations.

It found the poorest households are at an even greater disadvantage, with their incomes 40% behind in the comparison against five nations – Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

This is due to a “toxic combination” of low growth and inequality.

Stagnation Nation, the interim report of the Economy 2030 Inquiry, blames the gap on a mixture of low growth, low productivity and high inequality that it says has had “disastrous consequences” for British families.

The Argus: Low growth and inequality has resulted in UK families being worse off (PA)Low growth and inequality has resulted in UK families being worse off (PA)

Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “Britain is a rich country, with huge economic and cultural strengths.

“But those strengths are not being built on, with the recent record of low growth leaving Britain trailing behind its peers.

“This forms a toxic combination with the UK’s high inequality, leaving low- and middle-income households far poorer than their counterparts in similar countries.”

The report reveals that UK pay growth has fallen below zero since the financial crisis and eight million young workers have never experienced a period of sustained rising real wages.

It says that the UK’s productivity gap with France and Germany has almost tripled since 2008 from 6% to 16% – equivalent to an extra £3,700 in lost output per person.

Mr Bell warned: “We must turn this around, but we are not on track to do so. We underestimate the scale of our relative decline and are far from serious about the nature of our economy or the scale of change required to make a difference. This has to change.”