Indicator 18 Degree of social cohesion
Data cannot be compared directly between countries as they
represent different definitions of social exclusion. The values on
the map are relative to national averages. Data are aggregated for
coastal and non-coastal municipalities.
Essex
Zeeland
Kent
West-Vlaanderen
West-Vlaanderen - percentage of the population
with minimum allowance
Greater
London
1
0,9
0,8
0,7
0,6
0,5
Nord - Pas
de Calais
0,4
Degree of social exclusion
±
0
Less Deprived
District level
25
Sources:
BE: APS 2002
FR: CA/CG59/CG62 2004
NL: CBS 2001
UK: ODPM 2004
50 Km
0,3
SAIL-regions
0,2
0,1
0
1996
More Deprived
UK-Index of Multiple Deprivation
Average Score (IMD 2004)
Nord-Pas de Calais-percentage of the
population with minimum allowance
(2004)
4
7
28
3,5
6
24
3
5
20
2,5
UKL
coastal
2000
non-coastal
3
8
coastal
4
non-coastal
0
Thames
Greater
London
1
Nord-Pas de
Calais
2
France
Métropolitaine
1
0,5
0
2004
2001
2002
Flanders
Zeeland - percentage of households with
long-term low income
4
non-coastal
1,5
Kent
1999
coastal
2
12
Essex
1998
coastal
32
16
1997
non-coastal
Zeeland
National
0
1999
2000
2001
• Unemployment
Degree of Social Cohesion
• Indices of social exclusion per area
− Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2004 in the UK
− Percentage of the population beneficiary of the minimum
An assessment may indicate whether the observed differences between coastal
and non-coastal areas are significant enough to warrant separate policies for
the coast and the better targeting of vulnerable groups.
allowance RMI (Revenu Minimum d’Insertion) in France
− Percentage of the population receiving the minimum allowance
or leefloon in Belgium and percentage of households on longterm (minimum 4 years) low income in The Netherlands
•
•
Key Message
In all Southern North Sea regions except Zeeland, social exclusion is
higher at the coast. For Zeeland and West-Vlaanderen, social
exclusion shows a decreasing trend over time in both coastal and noncoastal municipalities.
In all SAIL sub-regions unemployment is higher in coastal zones
except for Zeeland. At SAIL level the coastal areas showed an average
unemployment rate of 11% compared to 5% for the non-coastal areas
in 2001.
Where do the data come from?
Data on unemployment rates at the local level are obtained from the national
Census data providers. National definitions of unemployment are the same,
hence comparisons can be made between countries in the Southern North Sea.
Social exclusion data were obtained from different sources, and are often
collected through one-off surveys. Since definitions and methodologies differ,
the data is not comparable between SAIL sub-regions.
What does the indicator show?
Social exclusion
Indices for social exclusion differ from region to region and are therefore
difficult to compare. The values from the map are relative to each country’s
national or regional average of social exclusion. They demonstrate that social
exclusion is higher at the coast compared to the hinterland for all regions
except Zeeland.
Why monitor the degree of social cohesion?
One of the goals of the EU ICZM Recommendation is to reduce levels of social
exclusion and promote social cohesion in coastal communities. ‘Deprivation’, or
‘social exclusion’, is a measure of inequality. It is generally a function of low
household income but the underlying causes may vary from place to place. Low
income could be the result of high unemployment which in turn could be a function of the lack of jobs locally or the unsuitability of the labour force to take
whatever jobs are available. Low wages, as a reflection of the structure of a specific economic activity, may also be the cause of depressed household income.
Other factors which may affect the degree of social exclusion are the number of
elderly residents, the ratio of dependents to wage earners, indices of ill health,
environmental deprivation including housing conditions, and so on.
©VLIZ
Degree of Social Cohesion
Unemployment in the SAIL region (%)
SAIL region
%
Essex
12
Zeeland
10
8
Kent
coastal
6
West-Vlaanderen
Greater
London
non-coastal
4
2
0
2001
%
5
Nord - Pas
de Calais
Unemployment rate (%)
0,0 - 3,2
±
0
3,2 - 4,7
4,7 - 6,5
6,5 - 9,3
9,3 - 12,9
25
12,9 - 17,6
17,6 - 27,3
50 Km
% West-Vlaanderen
%
12
10
4
SAIL-regions
District level
Sources:
BE: APS 2002
FR: INSEE 1999
NL: CBS 2002
UK: ONS 2001
3
2
1
Classification
Natural Breaks 7 Classes
0
Essex
Kent
Geater London
1990
1999
% Nord-Pas de Calais
Zeeland
7
24
6
20
5
8
UK 2001
6
16
4
6
12
3
4
2
8
2
1
4
0
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
1982
Degree of Social Cohesion
For the UK, the Index of Multiple Deprivation (2004) takes into account different criteria of
social deprivation including income, employment, health deprivation, education and the living
environment. Higher levels of social exclusion are observed in the coastal zone and the Thames
area in comparison to non-coastal areas of Kent, Essex and Greater London (2004). The
Thames area shows the highest levels of social exclusion with an average score of 30.2 (25.1 in
Greater London) while the hinterland of Kent shows the lowest average (15.9 versus 22.6 at the
coast).
In West-Vlaanderen the percentage of the population that benefited from minimum allowance
in 2002 was at least twice as high at the coast compared to the hinterland. However the overall
rates have decreased slightly since 1998 in both areas. The region of Nord-Pas de Calais has
one of the highest rates of social exclusion at the national level. This is even more pronounced
at the coast where 3.5% of the population receives the minimum allowance ensured by
government (RMI), compared to 1.9% in the hinterland. Especially in coastal urban areas such
as Calais (4.8%) and Dunkerque (6.2%) the rates in 2004 are relatively high, although they have
decreased since 1997 (from 9% and 10% respectively).
Unemployment rates
The coastal areas of Kent, Essex, West-Vlaanderen and Nord-Pas de Calais record higher
unemployment rates for all sampled years with values as high as 20.9% in the coastal area of
Nord-Pas de Calais (1999). In addition, unemployment rates in Nord-Pas de Calais have
increased steadily over the years, with coastal unemployment increasing at a faster pace. In
1999 this disparity reached a maximum of 6.6%.
Zeeland is the only region within SAIL where unemployment rates are higher in non-coastal
municipalities (4.8% versus 3.7% in 2001), although it has the lowest overall unemployment in
the Southern North Sea. Zeeland and West-Vlaanderen show a general decline in
unemployment rates while the disparity between coastal and non-coastal areas is apparently
decreasing.
Largely influenced by the relative high unemployment rates of Nord-Pas de Calais and WestVlaanderen, at SAIL level, the coastal areas show an average unemployment rate of 11%
compared to 5% for the hinterland in 2001.
What are the implications for planning and managing the coast?
The importance of economic and social coherence within the European Union is recognised by
the European Commission, and clearly stated in the goals of the EU ICZM Recommendation.
The EC objective-2 programme (€727million in 2000-2006)
that targets areas such as coastal zones in economic decline
or in need of regeneration, is intended to revitalise tourism,
economy and the social and ecological aspects with an
emphasis on sustainability.
Since coastal regions are often targeted for holiday and
retirement and investment purposes, different mechanisms
take place in the housing policies and real estate market.
These drivers have an impact on affordable housing and
living conditions for the local population. Also in some cases,
the concentration of second homes and the high proportion of
elderly at the coast have an impact on social exclusion. Many
of the coastal zone economies have entered a depression
compared to more thriving larger urban areas in the
hinterland. It is important to measure, according to the best
available national definitions of social exclusion, whether
higher rates of deprivation are present in coastal zones and
whether these are being addressed efficiently in order to build
more cohesive and sustainable communities.
How reliable is the indicator?
For the data on social exclusion, Census data (total
population, number of households) is combined with data
from surveys that can be provided by social security
departments or commissioned to Social Research Centres.
Since different countries apply different definitions, the
measurement may be more or less representative to
monitor a complex issue such as social exclusion, and may
be more or less sensitive to changes that take place as a
response to sustainable development strategies.
The data for unemployment rates at the local level is
available from the Census data providers and hence
considered relevant and reliable data
sources.