Policy Press

Understanding inequality, poverty and wealth

Policies and prospects

Edited by Tess Ridge and Sharon Wright

Published

Jun 30, 2008

Page count

360 pages

Browse the series

Understanding Welfare: Social Issues, Policy and Practice

ISBN

978-1861349149

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jun 30, 2008

Page count

336 pages

Browse the series

Understanding Welfare: Social Issues, Policy and Practice

ISBN

978-1861349156

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jun 30, 2008

Page count

360 pages

Browse the series

Understanding Welfare: Social Issues, Policy and Practice

ISBN

978-1447319795

Imprint

Policy Press
Understanding inequality, poverty and wealth

At a time when the divide between the wealthy and the disadvantaged is widening, this major textbook provides students with a critical understanding of poverty and social exclusion in relation to wealth, rather than as separate from it.

Raising fundamental questions about the organisation of society, social structures and relationships and social justice, the book is split into four main sections exploring key concepts and issues; 'people and place' (poverty and wealth across different groups and situations); the role of the state; and prospects for the future.

This is the only textbook to focus on the links between wealth and poverty and contains an edited collection of chapters specially written by a distinguished panel of contributors including Pete Alcock, Daniel Dorling, Mary Shaw, Gill Scott and Jay Ginn. It is designed with the needs of students in mind and includes useful chapter summaries, illustrative boxes and diagrams, and pointers to relevant websites and other sources of further information.

This is an essential textbook for level 1/2 undergraduate students studying social policy either as a main subject or as part of their course. It is a core text for level 3/4 specialist modules in this field.

"This volume provides a timely and much-needed critical account of the inter-relationship between 'the problem of poverty' and 'the problem of riches'. Combining both conceptual, empirical and policy perspectives and a UK and global focus, it offers rich pickings for students and all who are concerned about poverty and inequality." Ruth Lister, Professor of Social Policy, Loughborough University, author of 'Poverty' (Polity, 2004)

Tess Ridge is a Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Bath. She is a trustee of the Child Poverty Action Group and Honorary Secretary of the Social Policy Association. 

Dr Sharon Wright is Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Stirling. Sharon is Managing Co-Editor of the journal "Social Policy & Society" and Co-convenor of the Scottish Social Policy Network. 

Introduction ~ Tess Ridge and Sharon Wright; Wealth ~ Karen Rowlingson; Poverty and social exclusion ~ Pete Alcock; Explaining poverty, Social exclusion and inequality: towards a structural approach ~ Gerry Mooney; Global inequality, poverty and wealth ~ Nicola Yeates; Spatial divisions of poverty and wealth ~ Danny Dorling and Dimitris Ballas; Gender, poverty and wealth ~ Gill Scott; The intersection of ethnicity, Poverty and wealth ~ Akwugo Emejulu; Childhood and youth ~ Petra Hoelscher; Poverty and financial inequality in later life ~ Jay Ginn; Health and disability ~ Mary Shaw, Ben Wheeler, Richard Mitchell and Danny Dorling; State approaches to wealth ~ Michael Orton; State approaches to poverty and social exclusion ~ Tess Ridge and Sharon Wright; Conclusions: policies and prospects ~ Tess Ridge and Sharon Wright.