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| CAPITALISM: UNQUENCHABLE GREED |
An OECD’s study 'In It Together: Why Less Inequality
Benefits All' revealed the UK is one of the most unequal developed nations in
the world, according to a new report warning that such disparity stunts
economic growth and damages the fabric of society. Income inequality rose both
in times of prosperity, as well as when the economy is performing badly. Growth
has disproportionately benefited high income groups, and left lower income
households behind.
“Lower income people have been prevented from realising
their human capital potential,” the study states.
More than 2 million children live in families that are
cutting back their spending on food, clothing or heating as a result of
government decisions to impose cuts in real terms on child-related benefits, anotherpiece of new research finds. Rates of both child benefit and child tax credits
have been pegged at less than the cost of living for the past three years,
causing one in five families to struggle to provide living essentials,
according to the End Child Poverty coalition.
The government has indicated it will seek to freeze the
value of working age benefits for two years from April 2016 as part of plans to
reduce social security spending by £12bn a year by 2017-18. The freeze hopes to
save £1bn. More than 4m households have been affected by below-inflation rises
to child benefit and child tax credit, said End Child Poverty. Nearly
two-thirds of those hit are working families on low incomes. A typical low-paid
working family with two children will lose £513 in 2015.
A separate survey found over a third reported that they had
cut back on family outings and trips, 26% spent less on clothes, a fifth cut
down on food and a fifth on heating. Those on lower incomes were hardest hit.
About 40% of families earning below £15,000 a year said they had cut back on
food, and 45% on heating.
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| CAPITALISM: DEVOURER OF CHILDREN |
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