Machiavelli
Well-known member
Yes, in sum, some people use absolute poverty when thinking of it, but the standard register is relative poverty, which is as you've relayed: 60% of the median income. Poverty and child poverty are difficult to address but there was a sustained and substantial fall between 1997 and 2010, and a subsequent sustained and substantial rise since then. I can't quite put my finger on what could have caused this.And then if you dig further into it you can find this info on how the data is collated from the 'End Child Poverty' website:
Source: End Child Poverty Coalition • This data is based on the DWP/HMRC statistics "Children in low income families: local area statistics" (March 2022). The statistics provides the number and percentage of children aged 0-15 years who are living in households with below 60% median income before housing costs. The data provided here uses the DWP/HMRC local indicators combined with information about housing costs at the local level to estimate poverty rates after housing costs.
Notes on how the data should be interpreted
The figures are based on the Department for Work and Pensions Children in low income families: local area statistics which estimates the poverty rate before housing costs. A statistical model is used to estimate child poverty after housing costs which draws on household survey data alongside local area statistics on private rent levels. The statistics are calibrated to regional 3-year averages from Households Below Average Income (HBAI) for the financial years 2018/19 to 2020/21. The HBAI figures for 2020/21 are less reliable than earlier years due to sampling issues related to the pandemic. This should be kept in mind when interpreting the statistics released today, but the impact is lessened by the use of three-year averages for regional figures. More information on HBAI is available here.
Users are advised that the data for individual local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are subject to small statistical fluctuations year-on-year and should be considered within the context of the regional or the longer-term local trend.
So, Govt data (patchy due to the pandemic) manipulated by a model. Who knows
To be fair though if even one child is in poverty that's one too many for my liking.