Health and Wealth Causes of Poverty

Lesson Focus Identifying: - The causes of poverty Describing: Explaining: - Why these issues are more likely to led to inequalities.

There is no one single cause! Poverty is caused by many different things, all of which can be linked to inequality. These can be social, economic, political or personal in nature. It is easier to identify these causes as factors that make inequality more likely and therefore can cause some individuals to experience poverty. Economy Tracker

Unemployment The Benefits System Family Structure Low Pay Causes of Poverty Disability Gender and Race

Why does unemployment factor into poverty? Unemployment: when someone of working age is not able to get a job but is actively seeking employment. Why does unemployment factor into poverty? It increases the chance that someone will experience poverty (not the single cause..) Without a steady income, many people struggle to pay for basics; they live below the poverty line. 72% of children living in severe poverty in Scotland live in households where their parents do not work

Low Pay If unemployment causes poverty then why are people with jobs still living below the poverty line? A 2012 Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) survey found for the 1st time, since records began, that the number of working households living in poverty outnumbered the number of jobless households in the UK (6 million: 5.1 million) The number of part-time workers who wish to work full-time hours has increased in recent years from 0.9 million (2009) to 1.4 million (2013).

National Living wage = currently £7.85/hour Low Pay Shelby's Story - Unemployment and Low Pay National Living wage = currently £7.85/hour National Minimum Wage = October 2014, £6.50/hour for adults aged 21 and over, and £5.13/hour for those aged 18 to 20. Low pay is especially a problem in unskilled jobs, those who part-time and for those who need to pay for childcare.

But benefits cost the country BILLIONS of pounds each year. The Benefits System The Benefits Trap? In 2012 in Scotland, 280,000 working households were claiming benefits over and above the Child Tax Credit (Double the 2001 figures) The vast majority of people who are living on benefits live in poverty; recent changes to the benefits system by the Conservative/Lib Dem government has made life even tougher for the poorest in our country. But benefits cost the country BILLIONS of pounds each year.

Family Structure Families with children are more likely to live in poverty than families without children. This is due to COSTS = Average baby essentials cost £1000 (The Guardian, Feb 2014) At the same time, family income drops as parents cut back on working hours for childcare reasons.

Family Structure Also true that the age of parents is also a factor; in 2012, 30% of children whose parents were younger than 25 were living in severe poverty in the UK. Lone parent families = earn less due to 1 adult situation; also tend to be headed by a woman who earn less, on average, than men. Also childcare vs working hours issues…

Women in the UK earn about 15% less than men. Gender and Race Equal pay legislation has been in place for 40 years however the gender pay gap in the UK remains one of the biggest in the EU. Women in the UK earn about 15% less than men. Women account for two-thirds of all low-paid workers in Scotland. Gender inequality still contributes to the likelihood of experiencing poverty in the UK today.

The link between Race and the experience of poverty is strong. Gender and Race The link between Race and the experience of poverty is strong. 25% of black African, Bangladeshi and black Caribbean working-age households are not in employment. Comparison: only 15% of white working age households are not employed. Many ethnic minority groups still face discrimination in the workplace, are overlooked for jobs and remain overlooked for promotions.

Questions How would you define unemployment? Give two reasons why employed people can experience poverty. What evidence supports the view that a greater number of employed people are experiencing poverty? Give two reasons why those who recieve benefits may experience poverty.

Explain, in detail, two of the factors that contribute to poverty in the UK (6) (in class) Describe, in detail, two of the effects of living in poverty on children. (6 marks) (homework) Describe, in detail, the main problems associated with living in poverty. Mention 2 problems in your answer (6) (homework) Explain, in detail, three reasons why one or more groups you have studied experiences inequality in the UK. (8) (in class)