TY - JOUR
T1 - Poverty, government policy and public opinion in Britain and Israel
T2 - A comparative analysis
AU - Monnickendam, Menachem
AU - Gordon, David
PY - 2010/10
Y1 - 2010/10
N2 - What are the effects of public opinion on social welfare policies? To what extent is increased financial strain associated with stronger support for anti-poverty policies? This article tests welfare state theory by comparing poverty, government policy and public opinion on poverty in the UK and Israel, based on rich and detailed comparable survey data on the conditions of the poor in both countries. The results show that, despite similar levels of income poverty and inequality, the poor have a considerably lower standard of living in Israel than the UK. There is considerably greater public support for the poor in Israel but limited government action to end poverty, whereas in the UK there is more limited public support for the poor but significant government action on poverty and exclusion. In both countries there appears to be only a limited connection between social solidarity with the poor and the political elite's rhetoric and action.
AB - What are the effects of public opinion on social welfare policies? To what extent is increased financial strain associated with stronger support for anti-poverty policies? This article tests welfare state theory by comparing poverty, government policy and public opinion on poverty in the UK and Israel, based on rich and detailed comparable survey data on the conditions of the poor in both countries. The results show that, despite similar levels of income poverty and inequality, the poor have a considerably lower standard of living in Israel than the UK. There is considerably greater public support for the poor in Israel but limited government action to end poverty, whereas in the UK there is more limited public support for the poor but significant government action on poverty and exclusion. In both countries there appears to be only a limited connection between social solidarity with the poor and the political elite's rhetoric and action.
KW - Comparative research
KW - Deprivation
KW - Depth of poverty
KW - Exclusion
KW - Power resources theory
KW - Public opinion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956626596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2010.00729.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2010.00729.x
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AN - SCOPUS:77956626596
SN - 0144-5596
VL - 44
SP - 554
EP - 574
JO - Social Policy and Administration
JF - Social Policy and Administration
IS - 5
ER -