Overcoming arguments against tackling child poverty and inequalities: marshalling the evidence
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Child poverty is a significant and growing issue in the UK, with nearly one in three children now living in poverty. The detrimental effects on children’s physical and mental health, as well as the perpetuation of wider inequalities, are well documented. However, instead of renewed efforts to alleviate this, policymakers and advocates continue to face staunch opposition to comprehensively tackling child poverty, often rooted in longstanding misconceptions, reinforced by the media and political discourse. To overcome this resistance, this article marshals the evidential basis for three structural truths: that social investment is a critical driver of economic growth; that structural environment, rather than individual failings, dictates family outcomes; and that domestic policy and investment, not demographics, define the availability of housing and public services. By anchoring our analysis in these evidence-based realities, we address and dismantle the dominant narratives of economic scarcity, parental blame and deflection that frequently stall effective reform. Ultimately, equipping policymakers and advocates with this evidence base strengthens the case for sustained, structural action to reduce child poverty and promote child health equity in the UK.
Source: BMJ Paediatrics Open
Institutions: University of Liverpool, University of York
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225174324