Living standards- from 1970s to 2006

In the 1970s many people didn’t need a phone or even invest in one due to mobile phones not being as technological are they are in the 21st century. For instance the percentage of mobile phones in 1970-72 were 0%. This number then still stayed the same in 1981 with 0% owning a mobile phone. However in 2006 35% of the population did as big companies began to improve and invest in these devices, boosting consumer spending on mobile phones. In addition to this automobiles in the 1970s weren’t as expensive and again technological as they are in the 21st century, as a lot of motorways weren’t built in the 1970s yet. In comparison to this infrastructure began to improve through the decades and more people began to purchase more big ticket items such as cars as more jobs became available and the standard of living rose. This then ment that the in 2006 the number of vehicles using the motorways were 75.5 thousand, daily in comparison to only 28.5 thousand in 1971 (a big difference of 47 thousand vehicles).

Moreover in the 1970s jobs weren’t at the standard wage as what they are now, a medical practionar in the 1970s earned just over £670 per week which seems like a lot but back then bread and other essentials were also a lot cheaper back then. However in 2006, a medical practionar earns over £1245. That is a huge difference of over just under 50%. This then meant that many peoples standard of living rose and so there appetites changed and people began to want more products, goods and services. As indicted in the national statistics the volume of domestic household expenditure on goods and services rose from 100.0 (indices) in 1971 to all over 200.0 in 2006. This then meant the economy becoming more developed and more research for the country as a whole to reduce death rates, diseases and so forth, making us a well-developed country. On the other hand some statistics prove that the economy is worse of in 2006 then it was in 1971. Such as the amount of full time male workers in 1971 was at 15.5 million, per contra the exact same number was the same in 2006 with 15.5 million of males also in full time work. This illustrates that full time work employment didn’t change and therefore standard of living hardly improved. In addition to this unemployment was at 0.75 million in 1971, however in 2006 unemployment has then risen to 0.96 million. This therefore indicates that the standard of living in 1971 were better off then in 2006 as more people were in employment and inflation was lower in 1971, meaning that in 2006 even though the same number of full time workers were in employment, unemployed people couldn’t afford much as jobs were sparsely available.

Furthermore waiters and waitresses were on more money weekly in 1971 at £140 then in 2006 when they are on £128. Now this figure doesn’t seem like a lot at £12, however £12 in 1971 would of got you a lot of goods for you money in comparison to 2006 where £12 wouldn’t of even gotten you your local corner shop in. Also the cost of the motorways and co2 emissions which automobiles produce cost the government millions, even billions of pounds each year just on medical costs due to pollution and maintenance on motorways. This means that in 197128.5 million automobiles were using motorways, however 75.5 million automobiles use the motorways in 2006. This has therefore reduced the risk of living longer for many people due to road accidents and congestion and money, making the standard of living better off in 1971 then in 2006.

In conclusion rising GDP will ensure that the UK is better off in 2020 then in 2006 as rising population into the UK and therefore more investment into the economy and injections such as consumption will mean that the UK government will become better off and be able to invest more into the economy. For instance the NHS (National Health Service) are cracking down more on diseases and long term illnesses such as diabetes, obesity and so forth therefore peoples life expectancy will rise, more better and renewable energy is being researched and investing in as technology is improving. Therefore by 2020 rising GDP will help sustain the economy, invest more in infrastructure, medical care and research for the economy, making peoples standard of living rise and economic targets for the economy hit.