Child poverty and devolution in North East England

Article

Child poverty is the starkest manifestation of economic and social inequality, leading to short-term hardship and long-term damage.

Poverty rates reflect both economic circumstances and policy choices. The UK is among the countries where changes to policy have contributed to major reductions in child poverty. Between 1999 and 2013, child poverty fell by 6 percentage points across the UK. However, over the past eight years these gains have begun to unravel.

Regional inequalities in the UK include marked differences in levels of child poverty. The North East currently has the second highest rate of child poverty of any English region. In this report, we consider how English regions, such as the North East, can use devolution to address child poverty and improve the lives and life chances of children.

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