Some Geographic Dimensions of Being Work-Rich and Work-Poor: Changes between 1986 and 1996

Paul Callister

People with certain similar characteristics tend to cluster together geographically, which can lead to the extremes seen in the United States of poor, inner-city ghettos versus “gated” residential communities.

A geographic distribution is increasingly considered to be important in research on the distribution of paid work, income, wealth and well-being within industrialised societies. Such research suggests that areas with a high proportion of people (especially men) not in paid work may impact negatively on a range of economic, social and health indicators.

This paper explores the geographic dimensions of two influential factors: participation in paid work and educational achievement. The results show that, while not exhibiting some of the extremes seen in the United States, New Zealand does have enclaves of work-rich and work-poor people and, linked to this, areas where there are high and low concentrations of formal educational qualifications. This suggests there is an important geographic dimension to the distribution of income, wealth and, ultimately, well-being.

However, longitudinal studies on the mobility of work-poor populations are needed to tell us whether policy should focus on “strengthening” disadvantaged communities, or on improving educational and employment opportunities at an individual and/or family level.