The Welfare State
The Welfare State: Developments and Perspectives
1. Absolute Poverty and Relative Poverty.
Sociologists and Economists use different definitions to measure poverty. One such definition is absolute poverty, where people lack the necessary food, clothing or shelter to survive. This is more common in developing countries, but still occurs in the European Union. For example, the Homeless can experience this kind of poverty.
The 1995 United Nations World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen stated absolute poverty as,
"A condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs." Those listed were, a lack of food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and access to benefits.” (Gordon 2005) Indicators of poverty
In many countries, absolute poverty is common and results from a lack of resources, or from unequal distribution of wealth. This often leads to poor nutrition, short life expectancy, and high levels of infant mortality.
In general a person is considered poor if their income level falls below the minimum level necessary to meet basic needs. This is called the ‘poverty line’, which will vary, depending on each society but was ‘officially set at 60% of an average income (after housing costs) in 2007 in Britain’. (Browne 2008)
Poverty in more economically stable countries is generally called relative poverty. This is where people’s income falls below the general standard of living within their locality but high enough to cover their basic needs. These economic inequalities exclude people from taking part in activities, which are normally an accepted part of daily life, leading to social exclusion.
The European Commission, Joint Report on Social Inclusion 2004 makes this point when they stated that,
"People are said to be living in relative poverty if their income and resources are so inadequate as to preclude them from having a standard of living considered acceptable, in the society in which they
1. Absolute Poverty and Relative Poverty.
Sociologists and Economists use different definitions to measure poverty. One such definition is absolute poverty, where people lack the necessary food, clothing or shelter to survive. This is more common in developing countries, but still occurs in the European Union. For example, the Homeless can experience this kind of poverty.
The 1995 United Nations World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen stated absolute poverty as,
"A condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs." Those listed were, a lack of food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and access to benefits.” (Gordon 2005) Indicators of poverty
In many countries, absolute poverty is common and results from a lack of resources, or from unequal distribution of wealth. This often leads to poor nutrition, short life expectancy, and high levels of infant mortality.
In general a person is considered poor if their income level falls below the minimum level necessary to meet basic needs. This is called the ‘poverty line’, which will vary, depending on each society but was ‘officially set at 60% of an average income (after housing costs) in 2007 in Britain’. (Browne 2008)
Poverty in more economically stable countries is generally called relative poverty. This is where people’s income falls below the general standard of living within their locality but high enough to cover their basic needs. These economic inequalities exclude people from taking part in activities, which are normally an accepted part of daily life, leading to social exclusion.
The European Commission, Joint Report on Social Inclusion 2004 makes this point when they stated that,
"People are said to be living in relative poverty if their income and resources are so inadequate as to preclude them from having a standard of living considered acceptable, in the society in which they
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