steps towards a fairer future€¦ · michelle murphy research and policy analyst, social justice...

STEPS TOWARDS A FAIRER FUTURE

IHREC & NIHRC CONFERENCE 16TH MAY 2014

Michelle Murphy

Research and Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland

michelle.murphy@socialjustice.ie

Overview

• Poverty – current situation and trends

• Impact of policy decisions

• Alternative policy framework

• Future actions

• Challenges

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Poverty Line 2007 2012

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€9,500.0

€10,000.0

€10,500.0

€11,000.0

€11,500.0

€12,000.0

€12,500.0

€13,000.0

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Poverty Line

Numbers below poverty line

Year Poverty line Numbers in poverty

2007 €11,876 722,007

2008 €12,455 645,854

2009 €12,064 639,209

2010 €11,155 669,556

2011 €10,889 731,984

2012 €10,621 756,591

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Who is affected by poverty?

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0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Children ARP

Total ARP

At Risk of Poverty 2007-2012

Deprivation

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0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

50.0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Deprivation

ARP + Deprivation

Deprivation NOT ARP

Deprivation 2007 -2012

Impact of policy decisions

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-18.4

-7.3

-5.4

-4.5

-6.2 -5.5 -5.2

-4.4 -4.1

-11.4

-20

-18

-16

-14

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

Decile 1 Decile 2 Decile 3 Decile 4 Decile 5 Decile 6 Decile 7 Decile 8 Decile 9 Decile 10

Percentage change in average real incomes by decile of disposable income per adult equivalent, 2008 and 2011

Reductions in services

• Public expenditure and public services have been the variable

• Cuts to healthcare, education and social welfare

• Charges introduced for services

• No progress towards the Europe 2020 targets on poverty / social exclusion and employment

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Policy reponse

• Public sector employee reductions

• Public sector wage cuts

• Fees for public services

• Reduced social welfare spending

• Increases in VAT and excise duty

• Changes to pensions

• Changes to eligibility for unemployment benefits

• Cuts to healthcare expenditure

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Policy response

• Reduction in minimum wage

• Changes to labour laws and collective bargaining

• Changes to employment terms and conditions

• Increased age of retirement

• Reductions in education spending

• Privatisation of state owned enterprises

• Expenditure ceilings introduced

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Trends

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• Negative health impacts

• Unemployment now a structural problem

• Low income groups impacted disproportionately

• Increasing poverty rates

• Increasing financial distress among households

• Net outward migration

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Proposal for overarching policy framework

Ensuring

macroeconomic

stability

Towards a just taxation

system

Enhancing social

protection

Reforming

governance

Creating a

sustainable Future

Debt sustainability

Bring Taxes to European

average

Protect services and

the social

infrastructure

Reform policy

evaluation

Combat climate

change and protect

the environment

Fiscal and financial

stability and

sustainable economic

growth

Increase taxes equitably

Combat

unemployment

A Rights-based

approach

Balanced regional

development

Investment

programme

Reduce income

inequality

Poverty Reduction Deliberative

democracy

New indicators

Common themes

• Increasing poverty and social exclusion

• Housing crisis

• Debt

• Inadequate policy response

• Alternatives required

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What could be progressed jointly?

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• Sufficient income to live life with dignity

• Meaningful work

• Appropriate accommodation

• Relevant education

• Essential healthcare

• Cultural respect

• Real participation

Challenges

• Values

• How to hold the state to account on economic, social and cultural rights?

• Emergency measures versus sustainable approaches

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THANK YOU

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