Economic policy

The latest edition of Poverty in Scotland, 2014, sets out to inform the independence debate in Scotland, providing the latest facts and figures and looking at how other regions and nations have tackled the problem. Gerry Mooney gives an overview.

There has been much debate on the merits of tackling inequality by prioritising ‘pre-distribution` - of attempting to achieve a more equal distribution of the cake before turning to ‘redistribution’ through tax and benefits. Stewart Lansley examines the possible impact of a number of measures on wage levels and the wage share.

The idea that if poverty is relative it will always be with us is a common misconception, argues John Veit-Wilson. 'Relative poverty' can be abolished if no one has fewer resources than needed to achieve that society’s minimum standards.

Poverty campaigners and think tanks have voiced disappointment over the 2013 Budget statement, accusing the Chancellor of doing little or nothing to help those on the lowest incomes. Against a backdrop of sluggish economic growth and high borrowing, the Budget used savings from deeper public spending cuts to give tax breaks to businesses and those on middle and higher incomes.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said the Chancellor had failed to deliver an anti-poverty Budget that would boost living standards and ease the strain on poor families. The Resolution Foundation think-tank pointed out that most of the benefit of income tax cuts went to higher-income households, at the same time as families on lower incomes faced cuts in tax credits. The Child Poverty Action Group accused the government of 'abandoning' low-income families on the frontline of austerity.