UK Welfare the Following Review of Current Dissertation

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UK Welfare

The following review of current literature is categorized by a number of variables. Statistics and Data initiate the report and is quickly followed up with Policy Literature. From there, an Academic Literature Review focusing on five articles (with corresponding studies and citations) takes place. After the Academic Review comes a Relevant Campaigning Review and a Media Review. Finally, a quick conclusion ties the literature together in a neat little bow.

The charts below provide data that allows researchers to understand exactly how significant the problem is. Chart A (see below) shows the rates of pregnancies in the UK broken down by age. As is evident, since 1990 pregnancy rates for older women have been rising significantly, while the rates for those woman under 29 years of age (including teenagers) have been holding steady, or slightly declining for the most part. Since current public policy was first initiated in the late 1990's and early 2000's one would think that a more drastic dip in the younger age groups would have resulted. That is, if current policy was as effective as it was meant to be. What is evident from this chart is that teenage pregnancies were at their lowest levels in 2008 (the latest year for which numbers are available). That being said however, doesn't necessarily mean that policy is the reason why, or even that a significant drop has been evident. A significant drop is not evident at all. It is more of an ebb and flow type of chart, rather than a steady, dramatic decline due to policy type of chart.

The chart shows a rather slight drop in teenage pregnancy rates from 1990 -- 2008 and if that is true, then even if public policy was the only factor at all (and we know that's not necessarily true) then one could realistically say, okay but the results just haven't been there, especially since a 50% drop was being advocated by the policy makers when initiating the policies in the first place. Not only are the pregnancy rates dropping but women are waiting until later in life to have children. This isn't true in all cases, of course, but the trends are obvious. The 30+ age group (including 30 -- 34, 35 -- 39 and 40 and over) is increasingly the group that is most likely to bear children. This may not be a good thing however, since there are studies that show that younger females who give birth, oftentimes presents their offspring with the protection from diabetes that older mothers cannot provide (Bingley, Douek, Rogers, Gale, 2000). Another study determined that the early childbirths also seems to protect mothers from breast cancer (McPherson, Steel, Dixon, 2000). As Arai states "much of the research that is cited as evidence of the negative outcomes of early childbearing is highly selective" (p. 90).

Chart A

Chart B. shows also presents pregnancy rates but it concentrates only on the teenagers in various countries. As is displayed the chart shows that the trend has not been on the downward side, instead teenage pregnancies have been trending upwards since 1971, and as of 2008 stood at the highest in recent history. This is the exact opposite trend than what is desired. There has to be reasons why the pregnancy rate is rising, especially with all the resources that have been dedicated in recent years to combating just this situation.

Chart B

Chart C. And Chart D. are used in conjunction with one another. Chart B. shows underage conception rates (teenagers under the age of 16) categorized by region, and Chart C. shows the income demographics for England also categorized by region. Comparing the two charts shows that London and Southeast England are the two highest income areas, and Northeast England and Wales are the two lowest income areas.

At the same time, the teenage pregnancy rates in London and Southeast England are among the lowest on the chart, while Northeast England and Wales are among the two highest. On the surface this fact could equate to culture, it could be influenced by a number of factors that are present in one area and not present in the other, but realistically speaking the comparison is one that could be of interest in the ongoing research. Do teenagers in Wales and Northeast England feel more of a financial incentive to have babies sooner?

Because the median income in London and Southeast England is higher, does that mean that having more money, or access to financial well-being, translate into less likelihood of teenagers who conceive? Ultimately, the answer being sought in this paper is not only that the teenagers who give birth early have greater or lesser access to wealth, but specifically how much access does the teenager have to the housing market, and how does having a house or a place to live equate to a higher or lower rate of teenage pregnancy?

Chart C

Chart D

Income distribution across UK regions

Office for National Statistic 2007

UK region

Gross income

London

£27,868

South East England

£21,109

East Anglia

£19,469

Scotland

£19,282

North West England

£19,236

West Midlands

£18,801

South West England

£18,629

Yorkshire & the Humber

£18,614

East Midlands

£18,321

Wales

£17,651

North East England

£17,594

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Chart E. below displays the average house price in the UK, London, Northern Ireland and Wales. Since 1998 (approximately the same time current policies were put in motion) Wales averaged the lowest housing prices overall and that has continued through 2009. Northern Ireland, except during the recent boom market in housing when a huge spike was evidenced has tracked pretty much the same pricing level as Wales while the UK overall has always averaged slightly better than both Wales and Northern Ireland. What is really interesting about the chart is the London housing market which shows prices that are approximately two times the pricing found in the UK overall, as well as Wales and Northern Ireland.

What the chart shows is that overall the housing market is strong (notwithstanding the recent downturn and recovery) and that the housing market in general should provide a relatively easy comparison for this study. As one recent study determined "in social housing, allocation of vacant placements is controlled by a set of policies and guidelines with which decision-makers are required to comply (Wiesel, 2011, p. 280) and if that is true, then the housing market data overall will be guided by the same guidelines, making it much simpler to compare influences.

The chart below shows that the worldwide recession of 2008 affected the housing market in a strongly negative manner. The problem with that scenario, is that when the housing market goes through its inevitable ups and downs it usually will affect those on the lower end of the financial scale much more negatively than it affects those with enough money to either pay cash for their homes, or have enough wherewithal to see themselves and their families through any short-term downticks.

Chart E

Policy Literature

A website for the UK government (www.gov.uk) states that "the government is helping local councils and developers work with local communities to plan and build better places to live for everyone. This includes affordable housing, improving the equality of rented housing, helping more people to buy a home, and providing housing support for vulnerable people" (https://www.gov.uk/government/topics/housing). According to the website, 'the government assists vulnerable people'. Further research shows that the website does not necessarily include pregnant teenage mothers (single or not) as one of the vulnerable people. Instead, what the website shows is that the focus of government is on older people and individuals with mental disabilities. Without specifically including young mothers, it does not exclude them either. However it could be said that without specific mention the young mothers are already excluded.

A recent IPPR report shows that current government policy is "the promotion of home ownership…rather than ensuring a sufficient supply of housing to enable everyone to live in an affordable home" (IPPR, 2011). The report went on to find that housing in the UK is not a situation that is conducive to young people searching for a home. A 2012 report determines the following:

"Many of the problems in English housing are deeply embedded. Demand has heavily outstripped supply for decades. Homeownership is too often out of reach. Social housing is being residualised. The private rented sector remains largely unprofessional and insecure and those who live in it have too little control. Meanwhile, the housing benefit bill soars at over £20 billion a year, and rising. England remains one of the richest countries in the world, but it is failing properly to house its people" (Hull, Cooke, 2012)

It can be asserted therefore that England is having difficulty in 'housing its people' and if that is true, then it could certainly be said that young pregnant women are probably being affected in a negative manner due to lack of housing, similar to a number of other groups. They are all….....

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