The Financial Pressure Of Social Exclusion

There is no doubt and there can be no argument that social exclusion is one of the key upward pressures where public spending is concerned.  Costs in a large range of areas will rise.  Benefits, health care costs, support costs for those who are excluded are all contributory factors.  Also you can add on the cost of crime and drugs together with the tax that would in fact be paid if those excluded came off benefits and were able to gain work.

Social exclusion affects business as well as accounting for a fairly large chunk of public spending.  It also traps individuals and families in poverty.

Some ways it affects business are by a lack of skilled workers, lack of customers and a lack of entrepreneurs.  Widespread underachievement in education plus the shortages of relevant skills all have a direct impact on sending talented individuals out into the workplace. 

There is also a greater tax burden on business which is a reflection of the costs of social failure. 

By reducing social exclusion now and preventing it re-happening in the future we can cut back the financial cost to society and leave each and every individual better off.  However in order to tackle social exclusion effectively it has to be understood why it had become so pronounced.