Definitions and ways of measuring poverty studies
- Created by: Sophie Masetti
- Created on: 10-05-15 12:20
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- Definitions and ways of measuring poverty
- Absolute poverty
- Seebohm Rowntree
- Conducted 1st study of poverty in York in 1899
- 2nd study in 1936 (measured relative poverty)
- 3rd study in 1950 (relative poverty)
- Allowed books, radios, beer, newspapers etc.
- 2nd study in 1936 (measured relative poverty)
- Attempted to develop a scientific way of measuring the minimum requirements for human needs
- POVERTY LINE- Based on the cheapest food, clothing and housing allowances
- Obtained medical advise on nutritional requirements (consulted experts)
- From this he worked out an allowance according to the size of the family
- When the total earnings were insufficient a household was said to be in povety
- From this he worked out an allowance according to the size of the family
- Obtained medical advise on nutritional requirements (consulted experts)
- HE FOUND THAT... In 1899- 33% living in pov
- In 1936 25% in pov
- In 1950- 1.5% in pov (dramatic decrease)
- Strengths and weaknesses
- 1st study of poverty
- You can compare change over time
- Views on adequate diet vary
- Consulted experts who would have had a middle class view and unrealistic ideas
- Physical needs are affected by age, gender and occupation
- Moves beyond an absolute definition of poverty
- Conducted 1st study of poverty in York in 1899
- Seebohm Rowntree
- Relative poverty
- Peter Townsend
- 1st person to study relative poverty
- Believed poverty could be measured by discovering the extent to which people were deprived of activities seen as normal by the majority
- Derived a DEPREVATION INDEX- which was a list of 60 things that were central to life in the UK
- He chose 12 which he regarded as essentials for the population
- in 1968-9 he sampled 2,052 households containing 6,098 people
- Gave each household a deprivation score based on whether they had items
- Households earning below the threshold where "suffering from poverty"
- HE FOUND THAT... 22.9% of the population where living in relative poverty
- Households earning below the threshold where "suffering from poverty"
- Gave each household a deprivation score based on whether they had items
- Limitations
- Measured inequality rather than poverty
- Represents Townsends subjective view
- People could not say whether they chose not to have certain objects it was just assumed they couldn't afford it
- 1st person to study relative poverty
- Mack and Lansley
- BREADLINE BRITAIN 1980s
- Built on Townsend- Defined poverty relatively- measured state of deprivation
- Tried to distinguish between styles of living which people could not afford and which people didn't want to follow
- From a list of items- asked respondent's to state what they considered to be necessities (consensual approach)
- Decided an item became a necessity when 50% of respondents classified it as one
- 22 items where selected if you lacked 3 items then you where in poverty
- Follow up study... now 32 items chosen
- 22 items where selected if you lacked 3 items then you where in poverty
- Decided an item became a necessity when 50% of respondents classified it as one
- CONCLUDEDTHAT... 14% of population living in poverty in 1983 and this rose to 21% in 1990
- BREADLINE BRITAIN 1980s
- Gordon et al
- 'poverty and social exclusion in the UK' 1999 and 2012
- Follow up from Mack and Lansley
- The ATTITUDES SURVEY- Sees what the population thinks are necessities
- LIVING STANDARDS SURVEY- Finds out who does and does not have each necessity
- Distinguishes who lack items by choice or not- 50% or more=necessity
- OVERALL DEPREVATION COUNT- Identifies how many households cannot afford these necessities to a point where it affects life
- If they lack 2 or more = deprived
- LIVING STANDARDS SURVEY- Finds out who does and does not have each necessity
- 'poverty and social exclusion in the UK' 1999 and 2012
- Peter Townsend
- Absolute poverty
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