Recent riots erupting in the UK are just one more indication that the current state of the economy is bleak. According to those living in the east side of London there is a definite demarcation between those who have and those who have not.

Hard-Hit Economy Chipping Away at Welfare

Amidst growing concerns that the government is chipping away at welfare payments, residents of Hackney are taking to the streets in protest over further decrease of their benefits. Many have been trying to get work, without much success and some have been on waiting lists for training for the better part of a year.

This ever increasing gulf between the rich and the poor finally came to a head outside a home listed for sale, the asking price £1.7 million as rioters quickly got out of control. As reported by Reuters, the main attraction is the location, which further raised the anger of area residents who are hard pressed to come up with £300 to £400 for a small studio flat in the area.

UK Economy – Gap Widening between Rich and Poor

Statistically, the UK economy actually has wider gaps between the rich and the poor than most of the other OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries. Sadly, London feels this inequality the most severely as evidenced by growing unrest in the hardest hit neighbourhoods of the city.

One unemployed man stated to reporters that it is “Us against them,” referring to the government with the police being targeted as a sub-group of government. The economy is floundering and the poor are paying the price whilst it appears as though the rich are just getting richer.

Tenuous Balance between the Economy and Civil Unrest

There is no easy solution to the decline of the economy in the UK and globally for that matter, but one thing is for certain. Steps need to be taken to bolster the economy before further unrest develops.