posted on 2018-01-19, 09:57authored byRebecca O'Connell, Charlie Owen, Matt PadleyMatt Padley, Antonia Simon, Julia Brannen
Not enough is known in the UK about how economic phenomena and policy changes have impacted families’ ability to feed themselves. This article employs a novel way of identifying
the types of UK families at risk of food poverty over time. Applying a relative deprivation approach, it asks what counts in the UK as a socially acceptable diet that meets needs for
health and social participation and how much this costs. Comparing this to actual food expenditure by different family types, between 2005 and 2013, it identifies which are spending less than expected and may be at risk of food poverty. The analysis finds the proportion has increased over time for most family types and for lone parents and large families in particular. The discussion considers findings in light of changing economic and policy contexts and the implications for policy responses of how food poverty is defined and measured.
Funding
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) /ERC grant agreement n° 337977.
History
Published in
Social Policy and Society
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
1 -18
Citation
O'CONNELL, R. ... et al, 2019. Which types of family are at risk of food poverty in the UK? A relative deprivation approach. Social Policy and Society, 18(1), pp. 1-18.