Changing living standards, 1949-89

Question 1

war damage

Answer 1

war damage; families torn apart, people starving and homeless
1/5 of all housing bombed, 1/3 was damaged
refugee influx led to more housing pressure

Question 2

food and housing

Answer 2

1940s and early 50s: housing and food= most pressing concerns
ministry of housing set up to oversee rebuilding
rents frozen and building industry given tax concessions to build
housing associations set up to build homes, some state run, some run by industries like Volkswagen, some privately run

Question 3

spending patterns

Answer 3

economy strengthened and living standard rose, so people spent more on consumer goods
1963: 63% of homes had a fridge, 42% had a TV and 36% had a washing machine
1985: 82%, 82%, 87%
real wages kept ahead of price

Question 4

1908s

Answer 4

1980s: 90% covered by benefits and healthcare
pension reforms in 1980s meant most people received state pension, people in 1980 lives 12 years longer than 1950
social inequality deepened
even in affluent 1960s, 1% of households owned 35% of wealth