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Poverty: matter or mind?
The state of being without Associated with need, hardship, lack of reso
urces To be denied adequate resources to particip
ate meaningfully in society A state in which a family’s income is too low
to be able to buy the quantities of food, shelter, and clothing that are deemed necessary
Absolute poverty
When a human being fails to receive the minimum amount of resources to physically sustain themselves, ie, food, water
The state of being without Associated with need, hardship, lack of reso
urces A state in which a family’s income is too low
to be able to buy the quantities of food, shelter, and clothing that are deemed necessary
Relative poverty
Defined by the general living standards—relative to how wealthy your society is
To be denied adequate resources to participate meaningfully in society
The government measures poverty by
Using a “composite index”. A list of around 40 indicators of poverty Eg. Annual income, educational achievemen
t of an individual, employment status, health and diet
Distribution of real1 household disposable income£ per week
Figure 5.14
Distribution of real1 household disposable income2
United Kingdom
£ per week
90th percentile
75th percentile
Median
25th percentile
10th percentile
The government tackles poverty by
Collecting tax from the population National insurance Distributing the collected money fairly to… The needy: The unemployed, the sick, the young, the el
derly, the disabled
Ways of distributing the money
Funding the essential public services, eg. NHS
Giving out benefits on a regular basis to those who are eligible
The Welfare State: a History
1601—Poor Law Act, first government interest in public welfare
1834—Poor Law Amendment Act: only for those too sick or too old to work, otherwise in workhouses (Oliver Twist, 1837)
1848-1875—Public Health Acts: local health authorities
1870—Public Health Act: interest in primary education
The Welfare State: a History
1880—Public libraries, swimming pools, parks, local government charities, self help
1944—Butler Education Act, education free and compulsory
1945—Family Allowances Act 1946—National Insurance Act 1947—National Health Service (NHS: P183,
PP186-7)
The Welfare State: a History
1960s + 70s—More selective about benefits 1979—Thatcher (P184) 1979—Conservative government (P189)
Increased means testing Benefit cuts Privatisation Competition between local services Caring in the community Encouragement of pluralism
The Beveridge Report
1942—Sir William Beveridge Analysis of the state of poverty and welfare Government interest in social welfare affairs
The Beveridge Report
5 things/evils Want Disease Ignorance Squalor Idleness
Aim: a poverty-free society
The Welfare State: Why the Need?
Pensions, health care, education Should people struggle to get adequate ho
using? Should old age equal poverty? Should everyone be entitled to a standard
of living at subsistence level? Should people be able to cease pain and n
ot go bankrupt by long term of illness?
The Welfare State: Why the Need?
Should everyone be prepared by life by having at least the secondary education?
Should tertiary education be within reach for everybody or should people struggle to get that opportunity?
Should basic rights like health care be provided independent of socioeconomic status?
Can the market handle it?
Is there universal access to any good or service? Ability & willingness to pay Perfect information—easily accessible and comp
rehensible: consumers and suppliers must be well informed of the nature of the product and prices
Perfect competition—product, capital market Individuals—price-takers with equal power Complete markets—do markets ensure us again
st inflation? Redistribution—necessary
Problems
Bureaucracy—cost & efficiency In theory vs. in practice Unfair distribution—the rich taking advanta
ge of the system and milking the government for money
Chapter 11 Welfare
What do you understand by the term ‘welfare state’, as proposed by the Beveridge Report of 1942? (PP182-3)
Why do you think there have been some changes in government’s attitudes towards the traditional Universal Welfare Provision? (P184)
What are the main benefits and pensions available in the UK system of social security? (PP184-6)
What are the basic principles of the National Health Service? How are its costs met? (P186)
What is the pattern of house ownership in Britain today? Who is responsible for the provision of housing benefits? (PP188-190)
WELFARE IN BRITAIN — THE PRESENT
The three main areas of welfare provision: health, housing and social security
The post-war welfare structure: a combination of public and private provision
From the 1980s: encouragement of provision for one’s own health and retirement by paying into private insurance schemes
Housing
1950s and 1960s — Post War slum clearance
The 1980s: Sale of Council Houses Many people disagreed with this policy Local Council Responsibilities To provide adequate housing and meet s
pecial housing needs in its area, usually through the local Social Services Department
Housing
Private Sector Housing Housing Benefits Help with housing costs: part of the provi
sion of the Welfare State, either for people on low incomes or for people unexpectedly or temporarily out of work through illness or unemployment (administered by local government)
Housing
The 1961 three-bedroomed semi-detached house: typical of those now standing on the Clober estate
Housing Crisis in Britain
Negative equity—house price falls People are losing more money on their ho
me than they're earning everyday at work. The Telegraph Credit crunch—less lending, tighter mortgage
lending environment
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=7438&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=272
http://www.saveborrowspend.co.uk/articles/feature/1781-uk-housing-crisis-how-is-it-affecting-you
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article4256.html