Understanding the Underclass - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0853745382 ISBN 13: 9780853745389

Publisher: Policy Studies Institute, 1992

Synopsis

Recent debate on social policy in the USA has focused on the idea that there is a growing underclass of people concentrated in poor neighbourhoods where public services and community networks have broken down and where rates of crime are high and rising. According to this view, these people are poor, they lack education and marketable skills, they are in work at best only intermittently, they tend not to form stable family relationships, they live in poor housing or are homeless, and they often use illicit drugs. They are said to be an underclass because they are not into the economic and social structure, and have little stake in society. This collection of papers by British writers addresses the question whether there is a permanent underclass in Britain. It critically examines the idea of an underclass, presents new analyses of British data, and considers the implications for policy from the perspective of both the Right and Left.

Edition details

• Publisher: Policy Studies Institute
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0853745382
• ISBN 13: 9780853745389
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96
• Editor: Smith David J.