Sociology and Social Exclusion

            
             Social exclusion has become an important political and social issue as a result of the income inequality that is escalating in the UK; bringing with it numerous other problems that create an effect upon the economy. In the past a vast amount of public finances were paid out to help resolve this issue, this alone was not enough in diminishing the problem.
             The economy feels the drain as a result of many varied reasons; waste of talent due to lack of education which creates problems for businesses that require a skilled workforce, financial loss occurring as a result of individuals on benefits created through a lack of training to improve skills, stress and mental health issues may arise due to isolation, health problems may occur from lack of stable diet and lack of facilities for physical health, it may also boost rates of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. There is also a growing disparity between the ratios of patients to doctors in deprived communities. Some single parents may be unable to work as a result of lack of childcare that is easily affordable. As an indirect result of social exclusion the population as a whole has to face issues created directly through cost, .
             I.e. areas where deprivation is high neighbouring others with levels of opportunities not available to the socially excluded, leading to diminished social cohesion. As a result of this these areas may suffer from higher levels of crime and the fear of it. This fear can manifest itself in various forms such as limited mobility around the area where there are high levels of groups of youth's. The actual financial costs to the tax paying public is growing rapidly as a result of the vast amount of young offenders especially in the 15-17 age group, as a result of this more police have been recruited in order to curtail the growing tide of crime. Other strains on taxation are teenage mothers, the homeless and truants.
             There are two individual yet tied causes acknowledged as economic and social change together with inadequate government policy's, working practices and poor interdepartmental communication.