Urban Social Exclusion

Question 1

1

Answer 1

Urban social exclusion refers to the problems faced by
residents in areas of multiple deprivation. These people are
excluded from full participation in society by their social
and physical circumstances. They cannot access a decent
job because of poor education or obtain decent housing
because of poverty. They often suffer from poor health
and from high levels of crime in an unattractive physical
environment. In a city, inequality can cause lack of social
cohesion and in extreme cases lead to civil unrest.

Inner city areas have traditionally been the most deprived
urban neighbourhoods. The characteristics of this
decline, shown in Figure 9.19 (page 418), were caused by
de-industrialisation in the second half of the twentieth
century when unemployment became a major problem.
Population loss followed and the movement of younger,
more affluent and more skilled residents left behind a
population who were older, less skilled and poor.

Question 2

2

Answer 2

There is no clear geographical pattern to urban poverty
today. It clearly exists but the image of a troubled inner
core surrounded by affluent suburbs is outdated. Some
of the highest levels of urban poverty are now found
in peripheral estates while many inner city areas have
been transformed by regeneration schemes. Rich and
poor areas today are found across city and suburb alike.