Public Attitudes to Poverty

Ipsos was commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to examine current attitudes to poverty and how views have changed since the 2008 financial crash.

Using qualitative research methods, including depth interviews, discussion groups and a deliberative workshop, the research also explored the public’s views on how poverty should be defined, what causes it and what kinds of policies might be effective in tackling poverty in the UK.

Key findings from the research include:

• While harder views towards poverty remain, the economic circumstances of recent years have encouraged some to reconsider both who might be affected by poverty and its causes.
• Participants believed the official poverty measure to be too narrow; they considered poverty to be about more than just income. They also questioned whether the term ‘poverty’ was appropriate in the UK context.
• JRF’s needs-based definition was viewed positively, although participants still felt that this did not encapsulate all that a life in poverty is. Participants suggested that factors such as lack of opportunity, lack of aspiration and inability to participate in society could also be included.
• While the idea of the ‘undeserving poor’ created tension, deeper attitudes were that personal choices are rarely the root cause of poverty. Those living in areas of high deprivation in particular felt that poor life choices were manifestations of long-term structural and economic barriers. Participants believed that anti-poverty policies needed to directly target those who needed them, and should focus on helping people into work and ensure that work pays.