POVERTY IN THE 1980S - A COMPARISON OF THE UNITED-STATES AND THE UNITED-KINGDOM

Historically, the ways in which poverty and welfare have been conceptualised in the US have substantially differed from the UK. This article explores the extent to which there has been a convergence in the distribution and characterisation of poverty in the 1980s in both. It reviews changing patterns of poverty, examines the theoretical debates and explores the manner in which the issue has been politicised. It concludes by arguing the case for convergence, qualified by the recognition that a common vocabulary has been deployed despite different nuances in each state.