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SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK

SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK. Lecture 13: Defining poverty in HK. Development and Poverty. Relations between development and poverty. Development and Poverty. What is the nature of poverty in the 1960s; and does it different from those in the 1990s? 1960s: ‘ Making Ends Meet ’

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SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK

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  1. SOSC 103DSocial Inequality in HK Lecture 13: Defining poverty in HK

  2. Development and Poverty Relations between development and poverty L13: 21.03.07

  3. L13: 21.03.07

  4. Development and Poverty • What is the nature of poverty in the 1960s; and does it different from those in the 1990s? • 1960s: ‘Making Ends Meet’ (by D. Faure) E.g. Inadequate food, Poor housing conditions L13: 21.03.07

  5. Development and Poverty • 1990s: ‘Disempowerment and empowerment’(Lui & Wong) • Old population • Industrial restructuring of the economy • Marital and family problems -> single parent families • New immigrants from Mainland China L13: 21.03.07

  6. How to define poverty? • In terms of • money/ resources? • living style? • citizenship? L13: 21.03.07

  7. Defining Poverty –Absolute Poverty Standard Approach • Specify the minimum or basic subsistence level • Estimate the percentage of income spend on food(50%) • Example: HK’s low income families in 70s and 80s • Advantages: Convenient; Straight-forward • Disadvantages: Narrow conception of poverty; Static L13: 21.03.07

  8. Relative Standard Approach • Poverty is defined in relative nature • Poverty is measured with reference to the degree of inequality in society • Measures of poverty line (The Hong Kong Council of Social Service): • Half of the median household income (HK$9,000 for family of 4) • Hong Kong’s Case (1.12 million people out of a total population of 6.9 million who live below the poverty line ~ 16%) L13: 21.03.07

  9. Relative Standard approach (cont’) • Advantages: • Links poverty to income inequality in the society • Poverty means more than receiving welfare (the definition that usually used by governments) • Disadvantages: • Difficulties in collecting right income information • Exaggerates the amount of poverty: ignore the help in kind received by the poor • Underestimates poverty: income is not the sole measurement L13: 21.03.07

  10. The Style of Living Approach 9 items included in a deprivation index (Chow, 1983): • Do all members have a permanent bed for their own use? • Does the household have a television set? • Does the household have a refrigerator? • Do members usually consult doctors when ill? • Does the family go out to celebrate on occasions? • Does the family eat fresh poultry apart from festivals? • Does the family present gifts to relatives or friends on days of events? • Do household heads give away “red pocket money” during the Chinese New Year? • Do household heads take friends now and then to restaurant ? L13: 21.03.07

  11. The style of living approach (cont’) Wong & Lee (2002) • To cut expenses, would you avoid taking bus • Would you avoid switching on lighting at home even when necessary • Do you have difficulties in affording red pocket money in the last Chinese New Year • Would you buy food right before the market closes because of cheaper prices • Is any of your household member without a fixed bed to sleep • Are you having insufficient food for at lease one meal during last week • Do you have difficulties in buying medicine when you get ill (9.4%) L13: 21.03.07

  12. Number of poor people receiving welfare in HK The number of people that receive social assistance: • 295,700 CSSA cases or 534,220 recipients: L13: 21.03.07

  13. Who are the poor people in HK?? Cases of CSSA (in year 2004) L13: 21.03.07

  14. Suggested Reading: Wong, Hung & Lee, Mim Ming (2002) "Study of Hong Kong Poverty Line" (in Chinese, with English summary) http://web.swk.cuhk.edu.hk/~hwong/publication/ Research_monograph/poverty_line_study_report.pdf. L13: 21.03.07

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