steps towards a fairer future€¦ · michelle murphy research and policy analyst, social justice...
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STEPS TOWARDS A FAIRER FUTURE
IHREC & NIHRC CONFERENCE 16TH MAY 2014
Michelle Murphy
Research and Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland
Overview
• Poverty – current situation and trends
• Impact of policy decisions
• Alternative policy framework
• Future actions
• Challenges
www.socialjustice.ie
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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