Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Poverty in the UK – A national perspective Tom Papworth Associate Director – Economic Policy CentreForum. “The belief that poverty has been virtually eliminated in Britain is commonly held” – Peter Townsend. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Poverty in the UK – A national perspective
Tom PapworthAssociate Director – Economic Policy
CentreForum
“The belief that poverty has been virtually eliminated in Britain is commonly held”
– Peter Townsend
“The belief that poverty has been virtually eliminated in Britain is commonly held”
– Peter Townsend (1962)
What is “poverty”?
What is “poverty”?
What is “poverty”?
What is “poverty”?
What is “poverty”?
Poverty in the UK – history
• Early 20th century – abject poverty
• 1950s – victory over poverty
• 1960s “Rediscovery of Poverty” in academia
• Today “One in five people in the UK are living in poverty” (Oxfam)
Definitions of Poverty• Basic needs / social inclusion
• Absolute / relative
• Income / consumption
• Basket of goods
• Official poverty and severe poverty line
Poverty in the UK – trends
19611963
19651967
19691971
19731975
19771979
19811983
19851987
19891991
1993
1995-96
1997-98
1999-00
2001-02
2003-04
2005-06
2007-08
2009-10
2011-120.000
0.050
0.100
0.150
0.200
0.250
0.300
0.350
(Severe) Relative Poverty 1961 - 2012(before housing costs)
Relative povertySevere relative poverty
Frac
tion
Poverty in the UK – trends
1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-120.000
0.050
0.100
0.150
0.200
0.250
0.300
0.350
(Severe) Relative Poverty 1994 - 2012(before housing costs)
Relative povertySevere relative poverty
Frac
tion
Poverty in the UK – 2011• 2008 – 18.7% of UK population at risk of poverty • 2011 – 16.2% of UK population at risk of poverty
Poverty in the UK – 2011• 2008 – 18.7% of UK population at risk of poverty • 2011 – 16.2% of UK population at risk of poverty
• BUT Biggest cause of the decline in relative poverty in the last five years = declining income of the rich
• Median incomes feel by £1,702 in real terms therefore the poverty rate fell by £681.
Incomes of the poorest
19611963
19651967
19691971
19731975
19771979
19811983
19851987
19891991
1993-94
1995-96
1997-98
1999-00
2001-02
2003-04
2005-06
2007-08
2009-10
2011-120.00
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
300.00
350.00
Household incomes before housing costs 1961 – 2012
5th percentile
10th percentile
15th percentile
20th percentile
Wee
kly
inco
me
in 2
013
£
Incomes of the poorest
19611963
19651967
19691971
19731975
19771979
19811983
19851987
19891991
1993-94
1995-96
1997-98
1999-00
2001-02
2003-04
2005-06
2007-08
2009-10
2011-120.00
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
Household incomes after housing costs
5th percentile
10th percentile
15th percentile
20th percentile
2013
£
The UK relative to Europe
Proportion of the population “at risk of poverty ” – Eurostat
Severe material deprivation2011 – 5.1% of UK population experiencing severe material deprivation
Unable to afford any four of the following: • To pay their rent, mortgage, utility bills or loan repayments• To keep their home adequately warm• To face unexpected financial expenses• To eat meat or protein regularly• To go on holiday for a week once a year• A car
• A television set• A washing machine• A telephone
Severe material deprivation2011 – 5.1% of UK population experiencing severe material deprivation
Unable to afford any four of the following: • To pay their rent, mortgage, utility bills or loan repayments• To keep their home adequately warm• To face unexpected financial expenses• To eat meat or protein regularly• To go on holiday for a week once a year• A car
• A television set - negligible• A washing machine - negligible• A telephone - negligible
Severe material deprivation2011 – 5.1% of UK population experiencing severe material deprivation
Unable to afford any four of the following: • To pay their rent, mortgage, utility bills or loan repayments• To keep their home adequately warm• To face unexpected financial expenses• To eat meat or protein regularly• To go on holiday for a week once a year• A car
• A television set - negligible• A washing machine - negligible• A telephone - negligible
What can we do about poverty?• Cash transfers
• Improve employment and earnings
• Make the money to further
www.centreforum.org
