Measuring poverty: seven key issues

Summary

The government is committed to the eradication of child poverty and to the reduction of pensioner poverty. It undertook its own review of (child) poverty measures in 2003. But recent research raises questions about the definition, and measurement, of poverty. This briefing has been written as background for a conference, on March 7 2008, organised as part of the ESRC’s Festival of Social Science. But is also designed to be read, and discussed, by people who will not have taken part in the day. The conference and briefing aim to promote an exchange of views and discussion of priorities between academics, policy makers, pressure groups, policy commentators and journalists.