1 / 15

The Politics of Poverty

The Politics of Poverty. Poverty as Underclass. THE POVERTY OF THE UNDERCLASS. SCOPE OF POVERTY. Global Dimensions - 11 % OECD (6-23%), Canada = 13% - 1.4 billion on $1.25/3 billion on $2.50 - improving but deceptive Poverty in Canada - how much/who - debates.

gasha
Télécharger la présentation

The Politics of Poverty

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Politics of Poverty Poverty as Underclass.

  2. THE POVERTY OF THE UNDERCLASS

  3. SCOPE OF POVERTY • Global Dimensions - 11 % OECD (6-23%), Canada = 13% - 1.4 billion on $1.25/3 billion on $2.50 - improving but deceptive • Poverty in Canada - how much/who - debates

  4. The politics of confusion Canada’s Child Poverty Rates • UNiCEF = 13.3% (LIM + Deprivation Index) = 24 % without govt transfers • OECD = LIM measure 16% > 12% >15 % • StatsCan = LiCO 18% > 9.5%

  5. FRAMING (MEASURING) POVERTY

  6. The Politics of Measurement • Before tax/transfer or After • LIM or LICO? • Short term / long term • Adults or children?

  7. Defining poverty * A human condition • Characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation • Resources, choices, security, power, participation • Necessary for enjoyment of adequate standard of living and rights (UNHCHR)

  8. Consequences of Poverty • Poverty Matters - increases possibility of making happen • Too much mattering - does poverty cause crime? - terrorism and poverty • Rioting in the streets: Lash of the Underclass - who’s to blame /what’s the causes - individual, institution/system (classes), - triangulated/situational

  9. Homelessness as street poverty • Defining? • Measuring? • Doing something about it?

  10. Food banks • Indicator of how Canada is faring? • Deflects from government obligations • Framing as charity/handouts vs tool for community building

  11. Rethinking Poverty/Putting it into Perspective • Not individual but embedded in wider frame - economic structures, power relations in society - neoliberalism - societal impacts/costs all Canadians Nat Council of Welfare (2011), public cost=$25 B (Calgary man = $42 000 in emergency = $120 000 in prison/hospital

  12. Not just about income, but powerlessness • Misconceptions of poor - working poor - chronic vs intermittent poor - downward vs upward poor - rational – tough choices, tradeoffs • Structure of Affluence = blame • Socially constructed • Not misfortune, but human right (UNDHR 1948

  13. Solving the Poverty Problem • Debunking Myths • Depends on blame/causes - multiplier effect/cascading disadvantages • Multi-pronged = housing, wages, childcare, transport, job training • Investment model vs reactive approach [next slide] • Cornerstone = Government Intervention = a national anti poverty strategy = poverty indicators = measurable targets + timelines = accountability/consultative/feedba = coordination bw/within govt, etc = transfer benefit + job benefit

  14. Framing Disadvantages • Cascading Disadvantages/Multiplier Effect - cumulative - new /lingering effects - tipping point - solutions = reinforce • Insulating Advantages - advantages = cushion - delay and re stabilize

  15. Investment Model for Reducing child poverty • Generation Squeeze Campaign • The issue: - 1976, families 25-34 years as poor = 10% - 2013 …….12% (govt expenditure for person under 45 = $12 000 - 1976 senior poverty = 30% - 2013 = 6% (medical care, pension, transfers = $45 000 govt spend per senior) • Poverty reduced when focusing not just on poor, but benefit entire generation. • Reduce squeeze - time squeeze (hours worked, more generous leave) - financial squeeze (affordable day care, housing credits) • Save $50 000 / Cost? $13 000

More Related