Based on the largest UK study of its kind ever commissioned in the UK, this book provides the most detailed national picture of poverty and social exclusion. Chapters consider a wide range of dimensions of disadvantage, covering aspects of household resources, participation and quality of life. On resources, the book charts changing views about the social minimum over the last fifty years as well as changes in living standards and poverty in particular. Analyses also look at the importance of non-financial resources including access to local services and the kinds of support provided by social ... More

Based on the largest UK study of its kind ever commissioned in the UK, this book provides the most detailed national picture of poverty and social exclusion. Chapters consider a wide range of dimensions of disadvantage, covering aspects of household resources, participation and quality of life. On resources, the book charts changing views about the social minimum over the last fifty years as well as changes in living standards and poverty in particular. Analyses also look at the importance of non-financial resources including access to local services and the kinds of support provided by social networks. Participation in society is examined in relation to economic activities, specifically employment, and civic or political engagement as well as social activities. For quality of life, chapters explore quality of health, housing and the wider living environment and subjective perceptions of well-being, as well as exposure to a range of social harms. Finally, the book draws the various strands together through a multi-dimensional analysis of social exclusion.