Conclusion

In conclusion, since Beveridge’s ‘five giants’, poverty has developed spectacularly. Although Labour’s Reforms in 1945 may have made a start on tackling the issues causing of poverty, these issues are still present today and are worse than ever before.
The three theories within this essay have contrasting viewpoints as to the causes of poverty, the issues with the welfare state and the solution to these issues. Firstly, the New Right approach argues that single parenthood is a significant cause of poverty today and acts as a drain on the welfare system. The New Right approach also criticises the number of unemployed young people today. The solution, they argue, is a cut in universal benefits and the introduction of means tested benefits. This, they suggest, would divide the ‘deserving poor’ from those who are simply lazy. The Underclass and Underclass +10 studies have reinforced the New Right viewpoint. The study emphasises that the poor themselves are to blame for the situation and not the government. The Social Democratic Approach, however, does blame capitalist society, rather than the individual, for poverty. The approach suggests that the government should redistribute income, provide opportunities for the under-privileged and support the weak. Furthermore, Social Democratic's stress the importance welfare and universal benefits. The study, ‘Addressing In-work Poverty’, reinforces this argument, showing the strong correlation between those in low-paid employment and those living in poverty. Finally, Feminism stresses that women are underprivileged within society compared to men. Moreover, they stress that caring responsibilities and low-paid employment hold women back from earning high wages. The study, A Gender Perspective on 21^st Century Welfare Reforms, reiterates the feminist arguments. The study argues that making a payment of benefits to one single receiver within the home would impact on women negatively.