Regular
reports on the growing Poverty, Unemployment, Debt and Inequality of
the neo-capitalist world
UK:
“1.6
million older people live in poverty, of whom 900,000 are living in
severe poverty.”
“The
latest estimates of take up found that in 2009–10 around a third
(up to 1.6 million) of older people who were entitled to Pension
Credit were not claiming it. On average they were missing out on over
£1700 a year (£33 a week).”
“Up to
2.2 million older people were missing out on help with their council
tax bill which, on average would have reduced their annual bill by
£728.”
“Up to
390,000 more older people could have claimed Housing Benefit to
reduce their rent by an average of £48 a week.”
“...
with their incomes being stretched by costs, many older people who
are struggling to get by are worried about their money running out.
Frequent worries are:
The cost
of care they need now or may need in the near future.
The
rising prices for fuel and food; during the winter some may find they
have to choose between the two. Above all, many fear for the future
and for any unexpected major expense that could derail their careful
financial management.”
USA:
“The
wealthiest 5 percent of American households held 54 percent of all
wealth reported in the 1989 survey. Their share rose to 61 percent in
2010 and reached 63 percent in 2013,”
“The
distribution of income and wealth in the United States has been
widening more or less steadily for several decades, to a greater
extent than in most advanced countries.”
“According
to a study by Harvard University, the growing income inequality in
the US between the richest Americans and the middle and lower classes
is 'unsustainable' and may worsen.”
“The
study, released last month by the Harvard Business School and titled
'An Economy Doing Half its Job', highlighted problems with the
widening US wealth gap, education system, transport infrastructure,
and the effectiveness of the political system.”
“The study said that while
large US companies were recovering their competitiveness
internationally, workers continue to struggle for better pay and
benefits.”
Comments
Post a Comment