Uncertainty and (mis)Representation in

Spatial Data Visualisations:

An Introduction to the Covert Politics of the Index of Multiple Deprivation

PhD Supervisors: James Cheshire, Paul Longley

UCL upgrade training, 10 December 2025

Johara Meyer, johara.meyer.25@ucl.ac.uk

OVERVIEW

• Introduction: Index of Multiple Deprivation and GeoDS
• Research Questions and Methods
• Summary and Next Steps

LAST MONTH THE NEW IMD FOR ENGLAND AND WALES DROPPED...

Introduction: Index of Multiple Deprivation and GeoDS

Deprivation Dimensions in 2025 English

Index of Multiple Deprivation:

Deprivation Dimensions Weights in 2025

English Index of Multiple Deprivation:

Introduction: Index of Multiple Deprivation and GeoDS

Introduction: Index of Multiple Deprivation and GeoDS

CAMDEN 014A

Introduction: Index of Multiple Deprivation and GeoDS

Uncertainty and Misrepresentation

• The IMD is one of the most commonly used measures of living standards in the UK
• Used in urban governance, funding decisions, and social research projects

• One of the most controversial statistics within human geography and frequently misused

IMD DIMENSIONS BY WEIGHT AND COUNTRY

THE CHALLENGE: MAKING UK-WIDE COMPARISONS OVER TIME

English and Welsh LSOA's,  Data Zones, Northern Irish Super Output Areas

THE CHALLENGE: MAKING UK-WIDE COMPARISONS OVER TIME

Research Question and Methods

• How can GeoDS 'smart data' be used to measure uncertainty in the IMD? Can this data be used to create an more dynamic/useful IMD? 
• To what extent would accounting for population size help overcome the challenges in harmonising the IMD?
• How well does the IMD measure 'affluence'? What could an Index of Multiple Wealth look like? 

— Employment

Northern Ireland IMD 2017

(Years collected: 2015/2016, Adult age: 18-64)

• Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• OR People not receiving these benefits who have not received income from employment
• NO Income Support
• NO new style Job seeker’s Allowance
• NO new style Employment and Support Allowance

Scotish IMD 2020

(Years collected: 2017, Adult age: ‘working age’ probably means 16-64 as children under 16 considered in the child measure )

• Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit (UC) in ’out of work’ groups (no work requirements, planning for work, preparing for work, searching for work)
• NO Carer’s Allowance
• NO Income Support
• NO new style Job seeker’s Allowance
• NO new style Employment and Support Allowance

Welsh IMD 2025

(Years collected: 2022/2023, Adult age: 18-66)

• Job seeker’s Allowance (both contribution-based and income-based)
• New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance (both contribution-based and incomerelated)
• New Style Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit (UC) in ’out of work’ groups (no work requirements, planning for work, preparing for work, searching for work)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Income Support

English IMD 2025

(Years collected: 2022/2023, Adult age: 18-66 )

• Jobseeker’s Allowance (both contribution-based and income-based)
• New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance (both contributionbased and income-based)
• New Style Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit (UC) in ’out of work’ groups (no work requirements, planning for work, preparing for work, searching for work)
• Income Support
• Carer’s Allowance

- IMD used in Decisionmaking

- Low Deprivation/High Deprivation not a good measure of Affluence/Precarity

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WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?

EXCERT FROM ENG IMD 2025