Policy Press

Poverty and ethnicity in the UK

By Lucinda Platt

Published

Apr 30, 2007

Page count

152 pages

ISBN

978-1861349897

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press
Poverty and ethnicity in the UK

Poverty rates vary dramatically across the UK's ethnic groups - an issue of concern both for poverty-reduction policies and for social justice. This book provides a comprehensive account of these variations and explores the reasons why they occur.

Drawing on a wealth of research conducted since 1991, and with a particular focus on the most recent evidence, the report reviews what we know about poverty and ethnicity and provides a detailed and considered insight into the factors contributing to the differing rates of poverty. In addition to outlining the policy implications of existing research, the author also reflects on the limitations to our knowledge and understanding of the issues, which serves as a useful framework for a future research agenda.

The book is valuable both as a comprehensive assessment of the topic and as an up-to-date and searchable resource on relevant research writings. It is essential reading for all those wishing to know more about ethnic differences in poverty experience and the contributing factors. It provides a sophisticated reading of the literature for students and researchers and a policy-informed take on the research for policy-makers.

Lucinda Platt is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex. Her research focuses on issues relating to minority ethnic groups and on child poverty. She is the author of Discovering child poverty, published by The Policy Press in 2005.

Introduction Part I: Concepts and definitions: Ethnicity and ethnic groups; Poverty and deprivation Part II: The facts of poverty: Poverty and ethnicity: the evidence Part III: Explaining ethnic differences in poverty: Income from employment; Family structure and kinship; Access to and use of social security benefits Part IV: Implications: Implications for policy; Implications for research.