Introduction

This system map is a way of representing visually the wide range of factors (variables) that influence levels of child poverty, and the relationships between them. It is intended to help us develop our shared understanding of child poverty and what influences it, examine the evidence about links between different factors, and act as a key reference for people looking to address the systemic factors that influence child poverty.

In this diagram the variables are grouped into thematic groups. Select the group you are interested in from the drop-down, and these variables will be highlighted. You can zoom into the diagram, and move variables around by clicking and dragging. Buttons to help move around the map can be found at the bottom of the page.

A positive link occurs where an increase in one variable causes another variable to increase too.

A negative link occurs where an increase in one variable causes another variable to decrease.

If you hover over a variable or link, you’ll see if more detail has been added to help explain it.