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Poverty in Britain: the impact of government policy since 1997
- Authors:
- SUTHERLAND Holly, SEFTON Tom, PIACHAUD David
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 80p.
- Place of publication:
- York
Relative poverty, measured as households with less than 60 per cent of the national mid-point income, fell by around one million between 1996/7 and 2000/1, including half a million children. This was largely due to increasing levels of employment and above-inflation increase in some benefits, especially those for families with children. Policy modelling taking account of more recent tax and benefit changes including the introduction of child tax credits - shows that the Government’s policies would remove 1.3 million children from poverty by April 2004, other things being equal. However, the overall national increase in incomes since 1997 has served to raise the poverty threshold, with the result that the actual reduction in child poverty is likely to be around one million. The researchers estimate that the number of children in poor households will be one third below its 1997 level by 2004 before housing costs are taken into account, and a quarter lower after housing costs are deducted. This means that the Government should meet its short-term target, unless other factors, such as employment, take a turn for the worse. The study also anticipates a significant fall in poverty among pensioners between 1997 and 2003/4. However, the assessment of how many older people have been taken out of poverty depends heavily on which income measurement is used.The incomes of many pensioner households are clustered close to the poverty line; while their housing costs tend to be significantly lower than those of working-age adults. This means that the numbers measured ‘below the poverty line’ are particularly sensitive to where the line is placed and whether housing costs are included in the calculation. Calculated after housing costs, more than 1.2 million pensioners will have been raised above the poverty line by policies that include the Minimum Income Guarantee. But when household incomes are measured before deducting housing costs the expected reduction in pensioner poverty is only 270,000. A further analysis, looking at the impact of changes in duty on cigarettes, alcohol and petrol, and other indirect taxes, shows that poor families tend to be disproportionately affected. Even so, the overall reduction in poverty since 1997 would only be marginally lower if indirect taxation changes were reflected in official figures.
Because it's worth it: a practical guide to conducting economic evaluations in the social welfare field
- Authors:
- BYFORD Sarah, MCDAID David, SEFTON Tom
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 78p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- York
This step-by-step guide to the practical application of economic techniques, with specific reference to the social welfare field, describes the ‘ingredients’ of a successful economic evaluation and identifies the methods available. Aimed primarily at non-economists evaluating social welfare interventions, it will also be of interest to economists unfamiliar with the social welfare field and to others working in the area. The authors outline the methods for identifying, measuring and valuing costs and outcomes. The report includes examples of economic evaluation in practice, which illustrate the process and highlight potential obstacles.
Making the most of it: economic evaluation in the social welfare field
- Authors:
- SEFTON Tom, et al
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 106p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- York
Economic evaluation involving the systematic assessment of costs and outcomes has a valuable contribution to make to evidence based policy making, by providing evidence of value for money or cost effectiveness in a rational and explicit manner. This book seeks to apply these principles of evaluation to social welfare intervention in the form of case study evaluations of community development, homelessness prevention, foster care and fuel poverty.