How are social networks, poverty and ethnicity related? A cross sectional study

Presenter: Dharmi Kapadia, The University of Manchester

Author: Dharmi Kapadia

Co-author(s): Nissey Finney and Simon Peters

Mixed social networks have been theorised to be beneficial, by providing links to people of relatively higher social statuses, which can improve access to knowledge about, for example, employment opportunities. The specific relationship between mixed social networks and poverty is less well established, and the way this differs for ethnic groups and neighbourhoods in the UK has not been investigated.

Using data from Understanding Society Wave 3, this study examined whether people with mixed social networks (ethnically mixed, mix of people with and without jobs, and geographically mixed) were less likely to be poor, and whether this association varied between ethnic groups, and for different levels of neighbourhood deprivation. Single level and multilevel logistic regression models were used.

Our results show that all three aspects of mixed social networks reduced the risk of being poor. Other factors, such as having no qualifications had a greater effect on the likelihood of being poor than social networks. The benefit of having mixed friendship networks in terms of the reduction in poverty was felt most by ethnic groups with lowest levels of poverty (White British group), and least by those with highest levels of poverty (Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups). People living in advantaged neighbourhoods benefitted most from having mixed social networks, in terms of likelihood of being in poverty.

In summary, a mixed social network composition can reduce poverty risk. However, social networks cannot be viewed in isolation; broader inequalities, including in education, are stronger drivers of poverty.