Tipping the scales: The social and economic harm of poverty in Scotland

It causes a damaging impact on individuals, but it also brings a loss of human potential and increased demand for a variety of public services. That in turns bears significant individual and economic costs.

In this report we explore the scale of harm caused to individuals and families by the struggle to get by on a low income, and quantify some of the negative impacts this has, for example on health and participation in the labour market. We find the total shortfall in incomes is actually less than the economic harms arising from the consequences of poverty.

Simply put, bold action to tackle poverty is not a zero-sum game but rather has potential to increase Scotland’s collective prosperity.