Answer :
The UK's new poverty measure from the Social Metrics Commission considers housing, childcare, and living costs, surpassing income-based measures. It seeks to better inform political choices.
The New UK Poverty Measure:
The new measure introduced by the Social Metrics Commission (SMC) focuses on a broader assessment of poverty in the UK. Unlike traditional measures that primarily rely on household income, this new approach includes various factors such as housing costs, childcare needs, and other living expenses to provide a comprehensive picture of poverty.
This measure is needed as it addresses the limitations of previous methods, which often failed to capture the complex realities of poverty. By considering a wide range of indicators, the SMC's measure aims to influence political decisions more effectively and ensure that policies are better aligned with the actual needs of people living in poverty.
For example, traditional poverty measures did not account for geographic variations in the cost of living or non-cash benefits like housing and childcare subsidies. This new, multidimensional approach aims to provide a more accurate and actionable understanding of poverty.
