Looking for an appropriate method for engaging the underclass

The extent and nature of urban poverty in some of the developed economies has given rise to many conflicting analyses of its causes and consequences. Some approaches to the issue have been based more on political and ideological premises than on scientific research. Because of this, the subject has begun to enter the national mythology in the UK and also in the United States. One category of urban poor has given rise to special scrutiny. This category is now being referred to as the underclass. One of my hypotheses in this paper is that such a class may already exist in your societies as well as in ours and I hope to be able to suggest a developmental approach to tackle it. I hope also that we will find that we can develop a common model with which to engage the problems that emerge.

A workshop paper on the nature and extent of urban poverty.