The idea of poverty / / Paul Spicker.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Bristol University Press Backlist eBook-Package 2013-1995
• VerfasserIn: Spicker, Paul,
• Place / Publishing House: Bristol : : Policy Press, , [2007]; ©2007
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (184 p.)

This book examines views about what poverty is and what should be done about it. 'Poverty' means many different things to different people - for example, material deprivation, lack of money, dependency on benefits, social exclusion or inequality. In The idea of poverty, Paul Spicker makes a committed argument for a participative, inclusive understanding of the term. Spicker's previous work in this field has been described as 'entertaining and sometimes controversial', and his new book certainly lives up to this. Some of the book's ideas are complex and will be of particular interest to academics and others working in the field, but the book has been written mainly for students and the interested general reader. It challenges many of the myths and stereotypes about poverty and the poor, and helps readers to make sense of a wide range of conflicting and contradictory source material.

Table of Contents

Front Matter -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- About the author -- Understanding poverty -- Defining poverty -- Poverty in different societies -- Understanding the figures -- Poverty as material need -- Concepts of need -- Area deprivation -- Poverty as economic position -- Economic resources -- Class -- Poverty and social relationships -- Social exclusion -- Dependency -- Poverty and politics -- Poverty as a moral concept -- The moral dimensions of poverty -- The moral condemnation of the poor -- Explanations for poverty -- Why people are poor -- Why poor countries stay poor -- Responses to poverty -- Responding to poverty -- Policies for poverty -- Notes -- Index