SCP: inequalities in society are structural and persistent

This is what the Office of Social and Cultural Planning (SCP) writes in an important study on “contemporary inequalities”. The SCP says a broader view is needed to see what inequality really looks like.

Musical tastes and friends play a role

The planning office shows that economic inequality is “entangled” with other inequalities. These inequalities can be personal (health, appearance, self-confidence), social (people you talk to about personal things, or who can help you) and cultural (musical taste, first name, digital skills).

The planning office surveyed 6,800 Dutch people and linked their answers to data from Statistics Netherlands on their economic situation. This resulted in the Contemporary Inequality report.

Seven social classes

Using a statistical model, the researchers divided them into seven similar groups: social classes.

The classes of the SCP report:

• the working class (19.9%)
• the youngest privileged (8.6%)
• top income (12.2%)
• the active middle group (24.9%)
• low-skilled retirees (18.1%)
• precarious workers (10%)
• precariat (very vulnerable and disadvantaged people, 6.3%).

The difference between the social classes: the highest, the “upper working class”, scores well on all counts. The following “young people with opportunities” are not: they are economically in the middle bracket, but compensate for this with their good scores in health, network and digital skills.

The position of the lowest social class, the “precariat”, is perceived by the SCP as worrying. This group has the worst financial situation, is the most unhealthy and has the most mental problems. The group has the least confidence in their peers and in politics. One in six Dutch people belong to one of these groups.

Insufficient economic measures

The differences between the groups are “significant and persistent” and, according to the planning office, something needs to be changed. The main message: recognize that inequality is a complex problem that cannot be solved by economic measures alone.

These are often underperforming and ignore the need for social networking, digital skills and health, warns the agency.

Obsolete target group policy

In addition, the planning office warns against the classic target group policy, which according to the SCP is outdated. “These target groups come from several social classes and cannot be confused.”

Placing responsibility for improving one’s own position on the individual citizen is also not ideal, as the lower classes are less successful.

The SCP concludes in the report that “structural inequality” is “persistent” and has “major consequences”, also for society as a whole. To combat this structural inequality, the planning office wants to launch a reflection on how to help people on several fronts at the same time.

Much more targeted help can be offered, especially at crucial times in life, to better steer society so that differences play less of a role, according to the agency.