The movies of Andrea Arnold were revealing in a certain way. "Red Road" and "Fish Tank", as well as her short film "Wasp". All set in the world of UK council estates(like US housing projects). A poor underclass with many of the same features as the poor underclass in the US.

Great films, worth watching.

You can see Wasp, which won an Oscar for best short film, here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aJjj8v3xVs

Trailer for Fish Tank, featuring Michael Fassbender: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg1yMOdjyp0

NE England is an interesting topic (I've lived here all my life), areas still are very depressed with some of the highest unemployment levels in the UK, married off to a rapid decline in our traditional industries of chemical & steel production.

Oddly we also seem to be developing one of the better tech hubs outside of London in Newcastle, so the rise of technology could see things improve.

Edit, misspelling. The photographer's name is Chris Killip, the book is out of print, but Available on Amazon as a Bookb on Books. He has others about depressed areas in England/UK.