Prosperity and Poverty in the UK
In recent years growth of the UK economy has been dramatic as even
minute increases in a country's growth rate can result in remarkable
changes in living standards over just one generation. The average
family can now expect, cars, technologically advanced entertainment,
further education for its children and a longer life than ever. Has
the less fortunate been left behind as the rest of society has
prospered. Recent economic research has found both positive and
negative relationships between growth and inequality not just in the
UK but also throughout the world.
There is no questioning that the UK as a whole has become more
prosperous. The British economy has experienced 9 years of economic
growth since the last recession ended in 1992. Since 1996 the level of
real national output has grown in excess of 2% per year leading to a
rise in total GDP and average living standards (Begg 2003). Growth in
the 4th quarter of 2004 increased by 0.7% and the level of GDP was
2.9% higher than the same quarter for 2003[1]. However the basis of my
thesis is that rapidly increasing access to international markets,
combined with increasing control of domestic labour markets has led to
the depression of the incomes of the poor at the same time as the
enlargement of the incomes of the rich. As a result, the UK has become
more prosperous but poverty has not been entirely eradicated. Absolute
poverty may have disappeared but the inequality gap between the rich
and poor has greatly increased seeing a rise in relative poverty.
The definition of poverty is an extremely controversial issue. How it
is defined is critic...
... middle of paper ...
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Valentine, C A Culture and Poverty, (1968) Uni of Chicago Press,
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Taylor-Gooby, P Harvester Wheatsheaf, Hertfordshire
Lister, R Charles Murray and the Underclass,
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Page, D Communities in Balance (2000) Joseph
Rowntree Foundation
Begg, D Economics 7th Edition, (2003)
McGraw-Hill, UK
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[1] Theme Magazine (25th February 2005)
[2] Social Policy and Social Work - David Denney 1998
[3] Poor Citizens – David Vincent 1991
[4] Income and Wealth – John Hills 1998a
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