No-Parent Families: How did we get here?

Can we drop the reactionary kneejerk responses please? It's obvious that these are posted without reading comments fully. For example, (imho) CTID isn't making a judgement on equality, rather he's stating that our poor handling of equalisation has resulted in the problem.

And frankly, I agree with him, and I think that is more to blame for our position now that anything else that has been suggested in this thread. I honestly think we got screwed somewhere along the line, which is why I started the thread in the first place.

adam

Anybody know where you could find the rate of inflation from a date in the 80s to today and compare it to a similar graph/table for the rate of wage increase. If we're including the price of houses (technically not in the inflation "basket") I'd guess (wth no evidence) that would be a major factor

You could probably find it on CSO. Inflation increases were, I think, used in increasing the CGT indexation factor until a couple of years ago - from, say, 1984 to 2003, the multiplier (i.e. inflation) was 2.003 - i.e. prices have doubled, or inflation was 100%. I think - though don't have any link for this - that wage increases have far outstripped inflation.

It'd be interesting to see the figures for mortgages. I know in our case, our mortgage was over double for building the same house compared to people we know who'd built 5 years previously. I would say that building costs have gone up by less than buying complete prices.

Also you can't ignore where the houses are being brought. Mortgage inflation may well be understated by people being priced out of the cities. People buying in Mullingar/Port Arlington/Drogheda/Longford etc would artifically keep the figures low (but would of course be a factor in any standards of living debate)

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Originally Posted by dahamsta

Can we drop the reactionary kneejerk responses please? It's obvious that these are posted without reading comments fully. For example, (imho) CTID isn't making a judgement on equality, rather he's stating that our poor handling of equalisation has resulted in the problem.

And frankly, I agree with him, and I think that is more to blame for our position now that anything else that has been suggested in this thread. I honestly think we got screwed somewhere along the line, which is why I started the thread in the first place.

adam

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Precisely my points . Equal pay was of course necessary, this country did it on the cheap by marking time as I outlined earlier, with the result that no one person male or female could support the family on a single income cause they could no longer afford to do so after equal pay was introduced!

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

You could probably find it on CSO. Inflation increases were, I think, used in increasing the CGT indexation factor until a couple of years ago - from, say, 1984 to 2003, the multiplier (i.e. inflation) was 2.003 - i.e. prices have doubled, or inflation was 100%. I think - though don't have any link for this - that wage increases have far outstripped inflation.

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pineapple

You would need to go back to about 1972. Because back then a single bread winner was capable of supporting a household. Inflation vastly outstripped wages in the 1970¨s and taxation levels at the time made sure the take home pay actually reduced because pay rises pushed PAYE workers invariably into a higher tax bracket. That gap has never been bridged.
Another aspect is the cost of housing which has outstripped the inflation rate.
Example Semi-d in my suburb bought 1982 23,000 Irish Punts today valued at over 280,000 Euro!

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Originally Posted by babydol

As a single parent, i'm geting quite annoyed about some of the opinions on here! I work 2 jobs and go to college. I probably don't see my child enough for some of your liking but everything i' do is for him! I live at home at the moment but really want a house for the pair of us, where my son has his own space. About 80% of my income goes on childcare the rest I try to save after buying whatever in neccessary.

Someone said that mothers choose to work - believe me I would love to spend my days runing around the park watching my son laugh and smile but that just isn't an option! people so often comlain about single mothers scrounging off the state to look ofter their children. SO whats the answer? Do I sit at home and get paid for doing nothing but spend quality time with my child?
Or do I continue to do what I'm doing, working and studying to give my son all the things he wants and needs later in life?

I'm just dying to hear the male opinion on this!

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My point babydol is that your main salary should be enough to support you and your child. If equal pay had really been equalised in real terms at 1972 levels , currently you would not need to have a second job etc.
I was not having a GO at single parents at all.

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Another aspect is the cost of housing which has outstripped the inflation rate.

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I think the original post queried inflation/wage levels taking out increases in housing, which it was acknowledged was extortionate.