AS: Definitions and ways of measuring poverty

Gordon et al

(needs finishing)

State defined: Households Below Average Income approach

(needs finishing)

Advantages of Bradshaw

Any family living below this income are regarded as poor, a clear line

Relative poverty definition

As societies change and become more (or less) affluent, the idea of what is poverty changes also (relative to the time)

Disadvantages

Like Rowntree, only considered physical factors, no 'human factors' that are needed e.g. money to socialise Defines poverty out of existence

Advantages of absolute poverty

Provides a clear measure of who is poor at any one time Helps with cross-comparisons of differing societies

Townsend - Advantages

The poverty line is a definite and clear line to separate absolute poverty and normal people

Mack and Lansley (Breadline Britain) - Advantages

The poverty line is a definite and clear line to separate absolute poverty and normal people Overcamre Townsend's problem of connstructing the list in his own subjective

Rowntree's defintion of poverty

being able to afford the resources needed for a healthy life

Bradshaw's (1990) budget standard measure

used detailed spending patterns of the poorest people to construct and income that is a 'modest but adequate budget'

Mack and Lansley (Breadline Britain) - Details

Attempted to overcome some criticisms of Townsehnd by use of a survey: Drew up a deprivation index but -items that respondant stated they lacked through choice were excluded -items included were based on the views of the general public on what was 'essential' The list of essentials increased from 22 to 33- justified by Mack and Lansley on the basis of the increasing expectations of the population - 'relative' poverty

Disadvantages of relative poverty definition

Can only be used within any one society - does not help with cross-cultural comparisons (measures poverty by asking people what's acceptable in their society) There is difficulty of deciding what is or is not a 'normal' standard of living Relative poverty could be seen as more a measure of inequality rather than poverty. Implies that no matter how rich a person becomes, there will always be poverty as long as there is inequality in wealth.

Townsend - details

Drew up a list of 12 items which thought of as normal behaviour He then surveyed the population to see who was able to have/do these items He gave those who didn't/couldn't a deprivation score according to how many they lack and plotted this score against earnings

Disadvantages of absolute poverty

Fails to recognise that poverty and what is considered a necessity changes over time (culturally bound) Rowntree's own opinion therefore his belief on what is poor may differ from others, hard to say what is or isn't It's more a measure of desitution (the failure to obtain the necessities of life to stay alive) but people can still be poor and still struggle on.

Advantages of relative poverty definition

Links poverty to the expectations of society - reflecting the fact that people measure their own quality of life against others. Broadens the idea of what poverty is - from the lack of basic necessities to leisure activities.

Consensual measure

Measures extent of poverty in terms of what possession and service the majority of people think are necessary in a society. Constructed by asking people to rank in order the possessions and service that they consider to be a necessity The resulting list is used to work what people regard as an unacceptable level of deprivation. If you don't have the things on the list (not through choice) = poor

Relative income measure

Measures income as proprtion of typical household income; if a family has a lower-than-average income they're unable to afford an acceptable standard of living. If a family/household receives less than 60% of median income, they are poor.

Townsend - Problems

Subjective - his own opinion, didn't go out and research himself More or a measure of inequality rather than poverty Does not take into account going without out of choice e.g. not eating a cooked breakfast could be a matter of choice rather than an indicator of poverty

Mack and Lansley (Breadline Britain) - Problems

While the items in the deprivation index were chosen by the public, the authors constructed the definition of poverty (the lack of three or more items). Not clear that the public would regard this as poverty.