Changing local concentrations of 'poverty' and 'affluence' in Britain, 1981-91

There is increasing concern about growing inequalities between the rich and poor in Britain. Some areas have become 'marginalised' as they have failed to take an equal share in some of the benefits of socioeconomic restructuring. In this article 'proxy' indicators from the Census of Population are used to explore continuities and changes in local concentrations of 'poverty' and 'affluence' between 1981 and 1991. The main findings are that 'concentrated 'poverty'' districts and neighbourhoods are over-represented in the inner parts of the largest cities and metropolitan areas while 'concentrated 'affluence'' areas are found disproportionately in those parts of Britain with a mixed urban-rural character