Poverty and progress in Malta, 1960-1977

Abstract

If people were asked whether there is still poverty in Malta, the general answer would be negative. Officially too, poverty is no longer recognised as existing. This paper has been written with this aim in mind, to see whether this claim is true. For the sake of time and practicality, those considered as poor have been limited to Old Age Pensioners and Social Assistance recipients. Inserted in the text are the relevant portions of the Old Age Pensions Act of 1948, and of the Social Assistance Act of 1956, and the amendments to them over the years 1960-1977. All figures, except for averages are taken from Government sources. An appendix at the end lists the sources used.