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Inequality
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31/10/2012
‘Self-perpetuating’ effects of inequality
Many forms of social disadvantage have a 'perpetual' character, according to the findings of a large-scale European research project. Past inequalities can themselves lead to future inequalities – not only for the individuals concerned but also for their children.
The report examines the key channels of influence and causality through which the social impacts of inequality can arise. It summarises the emerging conclusions from a wide range of individual studies, organised around five areas:
Category: Reports -
24/10/2012
Welfare state ‘needed to tackle European poverty’
The best-performing European countries in terms of social and economic outcomes have one thing in common – a large and active welfare state. That's the emerging policy conclusion of a major EU-funded research project on poverty and inequality.
Category: Reports -
11/10/2012
What drives growing inequalities?
Growing income and wealth inequalities in European and other developed countries are being driven by a complex range of factors, according to researchers working on a European Commission-funded project. Their report summarises the findings of a number of separate studies looking at inequalities in income, wealth and education.
Category: Reports -
05/10/2012
Policy commission launched on wealth distribution
Birmingham University has announced the launch of a Policy Commission on the Distribution of Wealth. The Commission, chaired by David Urquhart (Bishop of Birmingham), will review existing knowledge about the distribution of personal wealth across different groups in society.
The Commission will focus on three particular kinds of personal wealth: pensions; housing/property; and financial savings/investments. It will consider whether the outcomes of wealth inequality cause socio-economic problems and social divisions, or whether there are advantages to an unequal distribution of wealth – for example, in creating incentives for entrepreneurs or others to create economic growth.
Finally, the Commission will move on to consider policy options, such as how to spread opportunities to accumulate wealth; how to redistribute wealth; and how to mitigate any negative impacts of wealth inequality.
Category: News stories -
03/10/2012
Paradox in attitudes to inequality and redistribution
People living in unequal societies are more likely to support redistribution, but this may not always translate into political action, according to a European research project. A new paper summarises different strands in the project's findings on how inequalities in income and wealth affect 'political and cultural' outcomes – including people's perceptions of inequality, and their attitudes to redistribution.
Category: Reports -
24/09/2012
Welfare states ‘reduce inequality growth’
Welfare states have reduced the recent growth in income inequality by around two-thirds through benefit systems and social transfers, according to new study. In contrast, tax systems over the period examined actually contributed to greater inequality.
The paper investigates income distribution and redistribution attributed to social transfers and taxes across 20 developed countries from around 1985 to the mid-2000s, based on household income data from the Luxembourg Income Study. It differs from earlier studies in that the total population is taken into consideration, instead of just those of working age.
Category: Reports -
17/09/2012
Rising profits linked to inequality and poverty
A rise in the share of national income taken by profits is linked to a rise in income inequality and poverty, says a new research study for the United Nations. The main contributory factors are policies that promote economic 'liberalisation' and deregulation, and in general the 'slow erosion' of the welfare state.
The study draws on high-quality and homogeneous datasets for 26 developed countries (compiled by the United Nations and the OECD), together with secondary sources.
Category: Reports -
13/09/2012
Income inequality ‘causing economic stagnation’
Income inequality is one of the main culprits behind continuing economic stagnation in the USA, Europe and throughout the world, according to a United Nations report. It says reducing inequality through fiscal and incomes policies is key to promoting economic growth and development.
Category: Reports -
12/09/2012
One in five children in USA living in poverty
More than one in five children in the USA are living in poverty, according to new figures released by the official Census Bureau. The report also reveals growing inequality between 2010 and 2011, and a decline in median household income.
Category: Reports -
11/09/2012
Poor Britain
In Poor Britain (1985) Joanna Mack and Stewart Lansley set out the ‘consensual’ approach to poverty pioneered in the 1983 Breadline Britain survey. They introduce the concept of ‘socially perceived necessities’ and distinguish between those who lack necessities from choice and those who can’t afford them. They define poverty as ‘an enforced lack of socially perceived necessities’. Poor Britain is now out of print but you can download this influential book by clicking on the links below. We have provided both the full book, 324 pages, as one PDF, and each chapter and appendices as separate PDFs for download.
Copyright remains with J.H. Mack and S. Lansley. Please cite ‘J. Mack and S. Lansley (1985) Poor Britain, London, George Allen & Unwin’ if quoting from this book.
Poor Britain: whole book
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