It is of course true that unemployment in the UK has been reduced - though I would say steadily rather than dramatically.
But the inequality in the geographical distribution of unemployment has increased. The areas with the highest unemployment rates in 2005 are the same as those with the highest rates in 1996. And the rate relative to the mean has increased in most of these areas.
We know this from the statistics of claimant unemployment that are available in full detail. But these statistics are derided by the UK Government in favour of ILO statistics that are quite inadequate in local detail. The growth in the geographical distribution of unemployment is not acknowledged in Government policies.
New Zealand has an excellent record according to ILO unemployment statistics. But does it have anything like claimant unemployment statistics? Do any such statistics show growing inequality?
Ray Thomas, Open University
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----Original Message-----
From: Social-Policy is run by SPA for all social policy specialists on behalf of Peter Davis (ARTS SOC)
Sent: Fri 9/9/2005 9:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc:
Subject: Re: Fw: UK health inequalities - Guardian report
Critics of New Labour's record on tackling inequality need to come up
with specific policies that the government has not to date entertained
that, if implemented, would make the difference and that are politically
and practically feasible. To note the intransigence of existing
inequalities is the easy part; this is a commonplace of sociological
observation that keeps many colleagues - and the Guardian - happily in
employment.
But let us note that under the current government there has been, in
contrast to the previous administration, a dramatic decline in
unemployment, a significant reduction in child poverty, and a slow, but
steady and cumulatively marked, redistribution of income. So, this has
not translated into corresponding reductions in health inequality. Why
not? The obligation is now surely on the critics - and the rest of us -
to identify how this relatively beneficent picture of macro social and
economic policy success might be translated into an equally striking
improvement in health outcomes.
Peter Davis
Professor and HoD, Department of Sociology
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND
Ph.: +64-9-3737-599, x 85109(City), 89740(Tamaki)
Fx.: +64-9-3737-439
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