Poverty in Perspective
This report is the culmination of an 18-month long project, led by Demos, in partnership with NatCen and supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, to create a new model to understand poverty in a multi-dimensional way.
This new model is unlike other multi-dimensional measures or analyses as we have applied a set of 20 indicators to those with incomes below 70 per cent of the median in a large household panel study (Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study, which covers 40,000 UK households1 ) and identified which combinations of indicators cluster most frequently together. We are not redefining poverty, or measuring it in a new way that replaces the existing income benchmark. Instead, we are applying a new model of analysis to the low-income population (using an existing income-based poverty line) to better understand the lived experience of poverty and generate new insights into how to tackle it. Our reasoning behind this approach is described in detail in the main report.
We are now able to describe 15 distinct types of poverty within the low-income population, characterised by a unique interaction of 20 indicators across three cohorts: households with and without children, and pensioner households. We have generated a rich source of data about different groups living in poverty, based on their lived experience, which could prove extremely helpful in guiding policymakers and practitioners in thinking in a more nuanced way about those who live in poverty (rather than considering them a homogeneous group). Our analysis should also prompt more holistic and multi-agency solutions (based on an understanding of multiple factors) regarding how each group might be helped out of the distinct type of poverty they face.
(As the publisher of this work, Demos wants to encourage the circulation of our work as widely as possible while retaining the copyright. We therefore have an open access policy which enables anyone to access our content online without charge. Anyone can download, save, perform or distribute this work in any format, including translation, without written permission. This is subject to the terms of the Demos licence found at the back of this publication. www.demos.co,uk)
Published : 30th November 2012
Author : Claudia Wood, Jo Salter, Gareth Morre,ll Matt Barnes, Ally Paget and Duncan O’Leary [ More From This Author ]
Publisher : Demos [ More From This Publisher ]
Rights : Demos
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