Here’s a breakdown of how the article emphasizes the importance of discounts for people in poverty, along with direct quotes and supporting details:
central Argument: The article explicitly states that discounts are crucially important for individuals and families experiencing poverty. It frames discounts not as a convenience, but as a necessity for affording basic needs.
Key Evidence & Quotes:
* “For people affected by poverty, every cent counts.” This headline directly highlights the significance of even small savings.
* Niels Jost (Caritas): “Those affected are usually very price-sensitive and know exactly where to find which discounts.” This demonstrates that people in poverty actively rely on discounts as a core part of their budgeting strategy.
* Niels Jost (Caritas): “Many people were concerned about every cent and were not above visiting several stores.” This illustrates the lengths people will go to to secure lower prices, emphasizing the financial strain thay are under.
* Acknowledging the trade-off with Coop’s changes: While Caritas isn’t overly critical of Coop reducing maximum discounts to 40%, the article notes that “not everyone can go shopping just before the store closes.” this acknowledges that the timing of discounts is also important for those with limited flexibility (often a characteristic of poverty - work schedules, childcare, transportation issues). Offering discounts earlier can be beneficial.
Supporting Context:
* The article contrasts the discount practices of different retailers (Coop, Aldi, Denner, Lidl, Migros). This implicitly shows how varying discount levels can impact affordability for low-income shoppers.
* The discussion of “rescue bags” and Too Good To Go,while focusing on reducing food waste,also touches on providing affordable food options.
* The retailers’ focus on reducing food waste also relates to economic concerns – even discounted food is more profitable than discarded food. This highlights that discounts aren’t just charitable acts,but also good business sense,and that maintaining some level of discounting is likely to continue.
In essence, the article doesn’t just mention that discounts are helpful for people in poverty; it centers that outlook, using direct quotes from a poverty advocacy association (Caritas) to underscore the vital role discounts play in their daily lives.
