On 07-Jun-10 14:28:01, Ursula Huws wrote:
> If so, this is a change of direction. In their 2006 paper on the
> subject
> (see
> http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/client/downloads/BB_worklessnes
> s.pdf) the Tories explicitly said - in the title of the opening
> chapter - that 'poverty is relative' and as far as i know they
> are signed up to the latest EC definition that says 'the poverty
> line is defined as 60% of the median disposable income in each
> member state' (there is a target to reduce the proportion of
> 'Europeans' below this line by 25% by 2020).
> Presumably member states will be free to massage the definition
> of 'disposable income' to put their progress towards meeting this
> target in the best possible light ... harsher rules on citizenship
> could also play a part: if migrants are not defined as 'Europeans'
> then their poverty won't count.
> Ursula Huws
> 2 John Campbell Road, London N16 8JZ, UK.
> Telephone: +44 20 7249 5931
> Fax: +44 20 7681 1824
> Mobile: +44 7711 3292 67
Hmmm ... The official definition of "poverty line" suggests a simple
and cost-effective solution.
Take all those with disposable incomes above 60% and up to 100%
of the median. Reduce all their incomes to below the current 60%
level. Then, suddenly, many of those who had been below the poverty
line will be above it, with respect to 60% of the new median.
With care, none of those whose incomes have been lowered will
subsequently be below the new poverty line. Thus many will have
been removed from poverty, none will have been brought into poverty,
and a profit will have been made. Magic!
Ted.
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E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <[log in to unmask]>
Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861
Date: 07-Jun-10 Time: 15:55:52
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