Measuring Poverty

Question 1

Rowntree (1901) Absolute Poverty

Answer 1

Lack of basic needs such as food, water and shelter.
Added together cost of basic diet, minimum amount of clothing and rent for a basic level of housing- poverty line drawn at income needed to cover these essentials

Question 2

Bradshaw (1990) Budget Standards Method

Answer 2

Contemporary version of Rowntree’s study. Income that would provide a modest but adaquate budget- below income = poor

Question 3

Advantages of absolute poverty (4)

Answer 3

It is a starting point
Helps charities target specific households- easier to see who needs help
Accurate and easy to work out (good generalisation)
Can be used to compare easily

Question 4

Disadvantages of absolute poverty (5)

Answer 4

People's views on poverty change
Is it attractive to be defined as poor
Changes over time (subjective) 
Measures destitution not poverty
Will society be willing to give away its information?

Question 5

HBAI- relative poverty

Answer 5

Government report based on disposable income- adjusted for household size and composition. 60% of median British household income

Question 6

Townsend (1950s) Deprivation Index

Answer 6

Asked respondents if they lacked things such as warm waterproof coat, cooked breakfast etc. 4 or more out of the 12 they were at risk of relative povety. 22.9% were in relative poverty

Question 7

Pischaud

Answer 7

More research should have been carried out for Townsend’s study

Question 8

Mack and Lansley (1993) Breadline Britain

Answer 8

Consensual Approach- surveyed individuals on what was essential in their lives, 50% of similarities it was added to the list, 22 items, 3 or more lacking = risk of poverty. 1983: 14%. 1990: 21%. 2012: 33%.

Question 9

Advantages of relative poverty (3)

Answer 9

Accurate for certain areas
Allows us to track necessities
Captures people above ‘poverty line’

Question 10

Disadvantages of relative poverty (3)

Answer 10

List is subjective/people may lie
Cannot be compared in all regions
Doesn’t take choice into consideration

Question 11

Social Exclusion: a state resulting from a range of social problems

Answer 11

Inability to fully participate in society caused by low income, unemployment, poor housing and bad neighbourhoods over a long period of time

Question 12

SEU (1977) abolished by Coalition government in 2010

Answer 12

Looks at most disadvantaged members of society- cumulative number of problems adds up to social exclusion- Spiral of Disadvantage

Question 13

Intergenerational Poverty

Answer 13

Risk of poeple passing down poverty to the next generation. Blanden et Al- children can escape intergenerational poverty, less true if your parents grew up in the 70s or 80s.

Question 14

Feminist View of Poverty

Answer 14

Women are more likely to be more poor than men due to unpaid work, informal child care, disabled and elderly, pay gap and lone parent (91% are women)

Question 15

Gans (1971) Functions of Poverty

Answer 15

Someone to do the dirty jobs
Acts as deterrent
Scapegoats
Entertainment stream aimed at/about the poor
Creates jobs and people to buy unwanted products