Living standards, 1945-89 Flashcards
What state was housing in after the war?
1/5 of all housing had been bombed flat, and one 1/3 of housing still standing was damaged.
What was set up to oversee rebuilding of housing?
A ministry of housing
How did the government deal with the housing crisis in the late 40s and early 50s?
- Rents were frozen
- The building industry was given tax concessions to build.
- Housing associations were set up to build homes - some of which were state-run for social housing or for workers in state-run industries such as Volkswagen. Others were privately run.
What evidence is there of a rising living standard by 1963?
63% of homes had a fridge, 42% had a TV and 36% had a washing machine.
What evidence is there of a rising living standard by 1985?
82% of homes had a fridge and 87% had a washing machine.
What happened to real wages throughout the period?
They kept ahead of prices
What proportion of people were covered by benefits and healthcare by the 1980s?
90%
What reforms were there in the 1980s?
Pension reforms meaning that most people received a state pension.
What happened to people’s lifespan?
It increased. In 1980, people lived on average 12 years longer than in 1950.
What happened to social inequality?
It deepened
What is evidence of social inequality having deepened during the 1960s?
1% of all households owned 35% of the wealth.
