The Welfare Society And Its Clients

I. Introduction

Poverty is a universal phenomenon. It is present in any place, culture or country where the effects can be so debilitating for the people involved in such state. Both rich countries and poor countries experience a sense of poverty among its citizens. "This classification brings us to the reality of a both widespread and contained poverty" (Argos, 37). The first one pertains to literally a country or state devastated and has no possible resources or capability to stand on its own. It is assisted by foreign countries and subsidized in order to be able to manage on its own. The latter on the other hand, refers to poverty is restricted. This is more evident among developing countries. "However, no matter where you look at it, poverty is a plague which inhibits one for progress and a respectable life" (Argos, 40-41).

The paper aims to explain a relative measure of poverty that will cater primarily to the basic unit of society which is the family. The objective of the programme is to find a support system that recognizes an effective way of evaluating poverty and then working out to respond to the possible solutions to remedy the situation. The existing programmes are widely used for policy formation, program administration, analytical research, and general public understanding.

II. Relative Poverty Measure

There is another point of view in looking at poverty which is in relative terms. Relative poverty can be defined as "having significantly less access to income and wealth than other members of society" (Argos, 55-57). Therefore, the relative poverty rate can directly be linked to income inequality. For instance, when there is an obvious discrepancy seen in the standard of living especially when the rich get all the more richer and the position of the poor all the more stagnates, a relative poverty rate will reflect such growing income inequality and increase. Conversely, the poverty rate can decrease, with low income people coming to have less wealth and income if wealthier people's wealth is reduced by a larger percentage than theirs. This is a relative measure that will vary according to time and place.

In 1959, a family at the poverty line had an income that was 42.64% of the median income. Thus, a poor family in 1999 had relatively less income and therefore relatively less purchasing power than wealthier members of society in 1959, and, therefore, "poverty" had increased. But, because this is a relative measure, this is not saying that a family in 1999 with the same amount of wealth and income as a family from 1959 had less purchasing power than the 1959 family.

The US advocates a measure of poverty which is an important social indicator affecting both public perceptions of the well being of individual citizens of the country but also focusing on the governments pubic policies and programs. "The present measure of poverty being used up to the present was developed since the early 1960s as an as an indicator of the number and proportion of people with inadequate family incomes for needed consumption of food and other goods and services" (Delaney, 2000). It has limited a poverty line for a family with four members alone.

At that time, the poverty "line" for a family of four had broad support. Since then, it will be helpful to further identify new measures to accurately include a growing poor population in the present times. The panel proposes a new measure that will more accurately identify the poor population today. It should cater to two factors: a proposed measure counts not only cash assistance, but also the value of such in-kind benefits as food stamps; and secondly, the proposed measure counts net earnings, after deductions for taxes and work expenses,