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Poverty measurement
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30/01/2013
Child poverty caused by drugs and alcohol, say public
As many as nine out of ten people say children can be described as living in poverty if their parents are addicted to drugs or alcohol, according to an opinion survey carried out for the government. This is more than the proportion who say lack of money is a factor in child poverty.
The results come from a survey carried out in December 2012 by GfK NOP. 967 people were contacted by telephone. They were asked the question: 'Could you please tell me how important you think each of the following are when deciding whether someone is growing up in poverty?' (followed by a list of 12 options, of which people could pick up to four).
Category: Reports -
28/01/2013
Income needs of older pensioners ‘same as others’
Older pensioners do not have fewer needs compared with younger pensioners, a Joseph Rowntree Foundation study has found – contrary to suggestions that because they lead more restricted lives they also have reduced financial needs.
Category: Reports -
21/01/2013
‘Strong link’ between social capital and poverty
There is a strong association between social capital and household economic well-being, especially as far as poverty perception is concerned, according to a new Italian research paper.
The paper looks at official European Union data sources, focusing on two sets of variables: one serving as a proxy for community and household social capital endowment, and a supplementary set describing household economic well-being.
Category: Reports -
31/12/2012
Global poverty ‘as high as 1.5 billion’
Over one-fifth of the world's population – some 1.5 billion people – live in poverty according to national poverty measures, says a United Nations think-tank study. This is significantly higher than the extent of poverty arrived at using international poverty measures.
Category: Reports -
05/12/2012
Search for ‘consistent’ measure of poverty
Measures of material deprivation, rather than low income, are particularly effective in identifying individuals at risk of multiple forms of deprivation, according to a paper from the LSE's Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion.
The paper critically examines a proposal for a 'consistent poverty' measure (put forward by researchers in Dublin) in which low income and material deprivation are given an equal weight.
Category: Reports -
28/11/2012
Model aims to capture dimensions of poverty
A 'pioneering' new model has been launched to capture the different ways poverty hits a range of household types. The Demos think tank stresses that poverty is not just about income, but is a 'complex, multi-dimensional phenomenon' manifesting itself in a variety of ways.
Category: Reports -
15/11/2012
Controversial plan for new measure of child poverty
The government has launched a consultation on proposals to alter the official measure of child poverty. It says it wants to look at developing a wider measurement than one based solely on income. Looking at relative income in isolation is 'misleading', it argues.
In addition to income and material deprivation, the consultation document suggests the following dimensions for inclusion in a new measure of child poverty:
Category: Reports -
11/10/2012
Improved measures of material deprivation in EU
Improvements have been proposed in the way material deprivation is measured in European Union countries. The changes are designed to aid the monitoring of social objectives at both national and EU levels.
Researchers have put forward a new material deprivation indicator for the whole EU population, and also a child-specific indicator (for those aged 1–15). Their work draws on data collected in the 2009 wave of EU-SILC (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions). 'Material deprivation' is based on the affordability of a selection of items (goods or services) considered to be necessary or desirable for people to have an 'acceptable' standard of living in the country where they live.
Category: Reports -
03/10/2012
Gender a ‘prime factor’ in poverty in Europe
Gender is a prime factor in explaining why some people are at risk of poverty rather than others, according to new European study. The authors adopt a gender perspective on poverty – in terms of both income poverty and poverty as a multi-dimensional phenomenon.
Category: Reports -
14/09/2012
Study contradicts official USA poverty figures
Poverty in the USA has fallen by 12.5 percentage points over the past 40 years, according to a new paper – contrary to official government statistics showing a rise in the number of people in poverty. Researchers argue that a more accurate picture is given by looking at changes in consumption rather than income. They also advocate improved income measures that remove bias in official price indices. On the basis of these alternative measures, they conclude: 'We may not have won the war on poverty, but we are certainly winning'.
Category: Reports
