One Introduction
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Christina Pantazis
Abstract
The Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE) Survey is the only comprehensive source of information on the extent and nature of deprivation in contemporary Britain. At the turn of the millennium, there were more people living in or on the margins of poverty than at any time in British history. According to this most rigorous survey of poverty and social exclusion ever undertaken, by the end of 1999 approximately 14 million people in Britain, or 25% of the population, were objectively living in poverty. In previous centuries, higher proportions of the British population have been poor and their poverty has often been more severe. But rapid population growth in the 20th century means that there are now more people experiencing poverty than at any previous time. However, the growth in poverty is not only the result of population increase. In the 1980s, economic restructuring coupled with changes in the tax and benefit systems led to both widening inequality and rapid rises in poverty and social exclusion (Pantazis and Gordon, 2000). Between 1983 and 1990, the number of households who could scientifically be described as living in poverty increased by almost 50%. In 1983, 14% of households were living in poverty and, by 1990, this figure had risen to 21% (Gordon and Pantazis, 1997). Poverty continued to increase during the 1990s and, by 1999, the proportion of households living in poverty had reached almost one in four.
The main results of the PSE Survey are that:
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Roughly nine million people in Britain cannot afford adequate housing.
Abstract
The Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE) Survey is the only comprehensive source of information on the extent and nature of deprivation in contemporary Britain. At the turn of the millennium, there were more people living in or on the margins of poverty than at any time in British history. According to this most rigorous survey of poverty and social exclusion ever undertaken, by the end of 1999 approximately 14 million people in Britain, or 25% of the population, were objectively living in poverty. In previous centuries, higher proportions of the British population have been poor and their poverty has often been more severe. But rapid population growth in the 20th century means that there are now more people experiencing poverty than at any previous time. However, the growth in poverty is not only the result of population increase. In the 1980s, economic restructuring coupled with changes in the tax and benefit systems led to both widening inequality and rapid rises in poverty and social exclusion (Pantazis and Gordon, 2000). Between 1983 and 1990, the number of households who could scientifically be described as living in poverty increased by almost 50%. In 1983, 14% of households were living in poverty and, by 1990, this figure had risen to 21% (Gordon and Pantazis, 1997). Poverty continued to increase during the 1990s and, by 1999, the proportion of households living in poverty had reached almost one in four.
The main results of the PSE Survey are that:
-
Roughly nine million people in Britain cannot afford adequate housing.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures vii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xv
- List of acronyms xvii
- Notes on contributors xix
- Introduction 1
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Principles
- The concept and measurement of poverty 29
- The international measurement of ‘absolute’ and ‘overall’ poverty: applying the 1995 Copenhagen definitions to Britain 71
- The necessities of life 89
- The concept and measurement of social exclusion 123
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Processes
- Does work pay? Employment, poverty and exclusion from social relations 163
- Debt and financial exclusion 191
- Social exclusion and local services 217
- Crime, ‘disorder’, insecurity and social exclusion 249
- Mental health, poverty and social exclusion 285
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People
- Children, poverty and social exclusion 315
- Youth, poverty and social exclusion 347
- Gender, poverty and social exclusion 375
- Lone mothers, poverty and social exclusion 405
- Pensioners, poverty and social exclusion 431
- Conclusion 459
- Index 471
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures vii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xv
- List of acronyms xvii
- Notes on contributors xix
- Introduction 1
-
Principles
- The concept and measurement of poverty 29
- The international measurement of ‘absolute’ and ‘overall’ poverty: applying the 1995 Copenhagen definitions to Britain 71
- The necessities of life 89
- The concept and measurement of social exclusion 123
-
Processes
- Does work pay? Employment, poverty and exclusion from social relations 163
- Debt and financial exclusion 191
- Social exclusion and local services 217
- Crime, ‘disorder’, insecurity and social exclusion 249
- Mental health, poverty and social exclusion 285
-
People
- Children, poverty and social exclusion 315
- Youth, poverty and social exclusion 347
- Gender, poverty and social exclusion 375
- Lone mothers, poverty and social exclusion 405
- Pensioners, poverty and social exclusion 431
- Conclusion 459
- Index 471
