Poverty and Social Exclusion
Reporting research, examining policy, stimulating debate
Research
Other research
The consensual approach to measuring poverty is now widely used in poverty research both in the UK and internationally – adapting and improving the method in the process. We'll be providing details of past international and UK research in this area in the coming months and will report on new research and new developments.
We will also report on other research into poverty, deprivation and social exclusion and related research into inequality and life chances.
The following are just a few of the many reports in this area in the last few years. We will be posting more in January.
International reports
New Zealand Living standards survey 2008. In this report, Bryan Perry of the Ministry of Social Development in Wellington develops his earlier work on an Economic Living Standards Index (ELSI). This index is used to compare the material wellbeing of individuals and population subgroups but, in contrast to both the Townsend and the Mack and Lansley research, the ELSI measures the full range of living standards rather than being just hardship-focused.
Consensual poverty in Britain, Sweden and Bangladesh: a comparative study. This paper by A.I. Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Professor of Sociology at the University of Dhaka, is based on a large-scale survey carried out in Bangladesh in 2000. It compares the findings with earlier work on poverty using the consensual method in Britain and Sweden.
Social exclusion and earlier disadvantages: an empirical study of poverty and social exclusion in Japan. In this paper Abe Aya provides one of the first attempts in Japan to define and measure poverty and social exclusion in that country.
Combating poverty and inequality is a major report from the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development on progress towards poverty reduction targets internationally.
UK reports
The Department of Work and Pensions has commissioned a number of studies:
- Family values – parents’ views on necessities for families with children (2010)
- Living with poverty: a review of the literature (2009)
- Cognitive testing: British social attitudes child poverty questions (2009)
- Measuring child poverty using material deprivation: possible approaches (2006)
- Low-income and deprivation in British families (2003)
PSE launched in Hong Kong
Hong Kong and UK researchers have just launched an international collaboration to measure poverty and social exclusion in Hong Kong. The new research project, building on the PSE methodology, will improve the measurement of poverty, deprivation, social exclusion and standard of living in the Chinese context, and enable international comparisons. Read more
Necessities survey
The Poverty and Social Exclusion surveys pioneered using public opinion to set minimum living standards. We are again asking people which items and activities from a range of aspects of our living standards should be seen as necessities.
It would be great if you could take part. Any personal details will be kept completely confidential.
PSE News
Children's well being
Around half a million children in the UK in the eight to 15 age range have a low sense of well-being at any one time according to a major research study by The Children's Society.
Around half a million children in the UK in the eight to 15 age range have a low sense of well-being at any one time according to a major research study by The Children's Society.
Niemietz review
A New Understanding of Poverty by Kristian Niemietz suggests decoupling poverty measures from economic growth. Stewart Lansley and Joanna Mack take issue.
A New Understanding of Poverty by Kristian Niemietz suggests decoupling poverty measures from economic growth. Stewart Lansley and Joanna Mack take issue.
Redefining poverty?
The Government, having missed the legal deadline as required by the 2010 Child Poverty Act, is expected to publish its Child Poverty Strategy shortly. In the meantime, there has been much speculation about its plans. Will it downgrade the goal of abolishing financial poverty? Stewart Lansley sets the background
The Government, having missed the legal deadline as required by the 2010 Child Poverty Act, is expected to publish its Child Poverty Strategy shortly. In the meantime, there has been much speculation about its plans. Will it downgrade the goal of abolishing financial poverty? Stewart Lansley sets the background
The ‘squeezed middle’ and the ‘poor’
Middle and low income households have missed out on increases in prosperity in the last three decades with the gains going to the rich. As a result the numbers vulnerable to poverty are rising, argues Stewart Lansley.
Middle and low income households have missed out on increases in prosperity in the last three decades with the gains going to the rich. As a result the numbers vulnerable to poverty are rising, argues Stewart Lansley.
Contact us
If you'd like to stay in touch with our research, make comments or suggest ideas, please contact us.
PSE 2011 is a major collaboration between the University of Bristol, Heriot-Watt University, The Open University, Queen's University Belfast, University of Glasgow and the University of York working with the National Centre for Social Research and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
An ESRC Research Programme
