ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of approaches to the conceptualisation and measurement of poverty, and examines some of the evidence on the impact of the welfare state upon poverty. It explores measurement issues, distinguishing between poverty line studies and those approaches that locate poverty within a broader living standards framework. The chapter examines the problems associated with measuring the impact of the welfare state upon poverty and presents some summary findings. The rationale for adopting a living standards approach reflects the idea that is better grounded in the actual experience of poverty. Poverty was one of the 'giant evils' that was the focus of William Beveridge's proposals which led to the development of British welfare state. One criticism levelled at the use of relative income benchmarks to measure poverty is that this confuses poverty with the broader question of income inequality. The chapter summarises the main conclusions and canvasses some of the issues at the forefront of contemporary poverty research.