This overview report provides an assessment of social policy developments under the three...
Europe
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21/11/2013
Fall in EU social protection spending
Social protection spending in the European Union fell between 2009 and 2011 – from 29.7 per cent of GDP overall to 29.1 per cent, according to data from Eurostat, the EU statistical office. But it remained significantly higher than the level in 2008 (26.8 per cent), before the full impact of the global economic recession.
Social protection expenditure includes social benefits, administration costs and other spending linked to social protection schemes.
Category: Reports -
06/10/2013
Inter-generational disadvantage – Britain compared
Social policy in Britain and the USA is less effective than in Germany at alleviating the inter-generational transmission of social and economic disadvantages, according to a new paper from the German Institute for Economic Research.
The paper tests the hypothesis that the extent of inter-generational income mobility, and the relative risk of poverty, differ according to factors in the three countries such as welfare state regime, family role patterns and social policy design.Category: Reports -
26/09/2013
EU ‘failing’ on poverty reduction
European Union countries are falling short over promises on constructing a 'Social Europe', according to a new report from anti-poverty campaigners. Their claim is made in an assessment of the 2013 'national reform programmes' drawn up by member states and submitted to the European Commission – part of the Europe 2020 strategy for social inclusive growth.
Category: Reports -
25/09/2013
Rising income inequality in Germany
Worsening income inequality in Germany in recent decades is the result of a combination of factors that includes less effective state redistribution mechanisms, according to a paper from academics in Düsseldorf.
The paper examines the main drivers of the rise in income inequality observed over the period 1991–2010.Category: Reports -
20/09/2013
Material deprivation in EU – alternative measure
An alternative 13-item indicator produces a more accurate measurement of material deprivation in the European Union than the existing one, according to a paper by researchers from the Centre for Social Policy at Antwerp University.
The paper considers the new indicator's potential impact on the size of the population deemed to be deprived, the socio-demographic characteristics of this population and the Europe 2020 social inclusion target.Category: Reports -
12/09/2013
Poverty threat to 25 million more Europeans by 2020
Austerity policies are leading to a massive increase in poverty and inequality in European countries, causing damage that will take two decades or more to reverse, according to a report from Oxfam GB. It warns that 25 million more people could be pushed into poverty in Europe by 2020.
Category: Reports -
09/09/2013
More action needed on child poverty in Europe
European governments need to step up efforts to tackle child poverty and social exclusion if the targets set for 2020 are to be achieved, according to a new analysis carried out for the Eurochild campaign consortium.
The report looks at the extent to which child poverty and social exclusion featured in EU member states' 2013 National Reform Programmes (NRPs) – annual reports to the European Commission designed to monitor progress on key social goals.Category: Reports -
09/09/2013
‘Inadequate’ European minimum income schemes
Many EU member states still fail to provide adequate protection for their citizens against low income, according to researchers at the Centre for Social Policy in Antwerp. Their paper looks at patterns of convergence and divergence in minimum income schemes in EU countries over the last 20 years, and highlights 'sharp variations'.
Category: Reports -
22/08/2013
Redistribution impact – income definition ‘key’
The redistributive effect of tax and benefit systems depends heavily on the way in which income is defined, says a new working paper from the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
The paper examines how the distribution of income in three European countries (the UK, Belgium and Greece) changes when the standard definition of disposable income is replaced by a wider definition. The latter takes into account three 'I's – indirect taxes, imputed rent on owner-occupied housing, and in-kind benefits.Category: Reports -
31/07/2013
European social security ‘becoming less pro poor’
A policy shift towards preventing 'benefit dependency' is increasingly undermining the capacity of social security systems in Europe to alleviate poverty, according to a discussion paper from researchers at Antwerp University. The paper highlights both the political and the financial pressures on social transfer arrangements.
Category: Reports
