The complex interaction of forces and circumstances that conspire to keep those who are born in poverty in the same situation for the duration of their lives, and which make social exclusion a transgenerational phenomenon, is the subject of this collection. Its purpose is to deepen the political understanding of the barriers that citizens face in achieving their aspirations, particularly among the most disadvantaged in society, and to identify further steps the government can take to overcome these barriers, through clear, incisive analysis from leading experts and academics in the field.