While undertaking research in food banks in Northwest England, Dr Kingsley Purdam and colleagues witnessed the ‘shocking’ sight of children visiting with their parents. It is likely that much of the food insecurity in the UK is hidden – particularly amongst families. Given the predicted increase in child poverty, it is likely that we will […]
Less for your money? Differences in essential living costs for poorer families
The recent Bank of England evidence on the record levels of personal debt that have accumulated since the 2008 economic crash highlight the financial vulnerability of many people across the UK. Research by the University of Manchester into everyday living costs for those with limited financial resources is being launched with the End Child Poverty […]
Our divided society: challenges for achieving inclusive growth in the UK
With talk of Brexit signalling a divided nation of haves and have nots, does the inclusive growth agenda offer a route to tackling inequality? Neil Lee outlines its potential strengths and limits. There are widespread concerns that, for many workers, economic growth has not been increasing living standards. These concerns are most obvious at the […]
Time for action on economic marginalisation in Greater Manchester
The Brexit vote underscores the need to address the economic marginalisation of the many people and communities across the UK who have been left behind by economic change. Ruth Lupton says it is time for inclusive growth to be on everyone’s agenda. Since we joined the Common Market in 1975 (but not because of it), […]
Why in-work progression matters when it comes to tackling poverty
Traditionally, policymakers have focused attention on the unemployed and employment entry in their efforts to tackle poverty. But a recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies stressed the growing importance of labour market conditions, with greater emphasis on job quality and progression. Anne Green agrees that in-work progression is important, but highlights a number of policy challenges. […]
The plight of the poorest: time for a local economic reset?
For too long, we have either turned a blind eye to poverty and disadvantage or hoped that a general rising tide of economic wealth would trickle down. It’s time to reboot prevailing local economic policy – argues Neil McInroy – which is failing the poorest in society. The vote to leave the EU has opened […]
Why should rich nations help the poor? Because, morally, it is the right thing to do
800 million people went to bed hungry last night and 19,000 children will die today of easily preventable causes. Foreign aid alone isn’t the answer says David Hulme and the fixation with it means we miss more effective ways to promote development. Over the last few years, UK aid has acted as a lightning rod […]
At what point will we do something about inequality?
Oxfam’s annual inequality report reveals that the richest 1% now have as much wealth as the rest of the world combined. And the wealthiest 62 people on the planet have as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population. Professor David Hulme examines this extreme fiscal inequality and asks what can we do […]
Are the Sustainable Development Goals the world’s biggest promise…. or the world’s biggest lie?
In New York the finishing touches are being made to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are due to replace the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Here David Hulme explores what they might mean. With 17 goals, 167 targets and perhaps more than 1,000 indicators those finishing touches remain a large task. The idea behind […]
It’s school not social networks that will get the poor out of poverty
It’s not how mixed our social networks are that’s the key to reducing poverty, it’s broader issues of social isolation and inequality in education we should focus on, argues Nissa Finney. The people that we know – our social networks – have come to be seen as a resource, for social and economic support and […]