The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 set stretching targets for child poverty reduction. The...
Europe
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29/07/2020
The origins of modern welfare, published 2010, now on open access
The origins of modern welfare was published in July 2010, by Peter Lang. The publisher and I agreed at the time of publication that our contractual agreement would expire after ten years, and the rights would revert to me. I am taking the opportunity now to make this work freely available, on a Creative Commons licence.
The book contains modern English versions of two documents from the early sixteenth century, which have some claim to be the earliest ever studies made in the field of social policy. The De Subventione Pauperum, by Juan-Luis Vives, was a commissioned academic report, written for the Senate of Bruges, and published in 1525. It represents, a watershed in thinking about governance, social responsibility and public policy. In Book 2 it proposes a comprehensive civic organisation of welfare services.
Category: News stories -
20/11/2019
World Children’s Day
On this World Children’s Day, please see this important report focussing on the role of child rights in addressing child poverty: ‘Protecting the Child from Poverty: The Role of Rights in the Council of Europe’.
Category: News stories -
15/11/2019
European Union 2018 child deprivation index
National proportions of deprived children vary hugely across EU countries, from 5 to 10% in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Slovenia to around 70% in Bulgaria and Romania. Read more about the new European Union child deprivation index - adopted in 2018.
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15/11/2019
European Union 2017 deprivation index
The EU has revised its material deprivation index from the existing 9-item to a new 13-item index following analysis of data from around 50 material deprivation items, derived from the UK Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey indicators and collected in EU-SILC 2009. Read more about the analyses behind this new index.
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06/04/2017
Official UK & EU measures
In this section you will find details of the official measures used to monitor child poverty in the UK under the Child Poverty Act, adopted by the Labour Government in 2010. Following the formation of the Coalition government (2010 to 2015) and then the election of the Conservative government (2015-), there were moves to replace these measures with other broader ones. These proposal were widely criticised by an overwhelming majority of poverty experts - see, for example, the PSE: UK team’s response to these proposals in Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Life Chances and Social Mobility and Child Poverty Review).
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24/03/2014
European social inclusion – progress report
European Union countries are still not giving social inclusion goals a high enough priority, according to a new report based on the work of a network of independent experts.
The report assesses, from a social inclusion perspective, the extent to which EU countries’ National Reform Programmes (NRPs) and – where available – Strategic Social Reports (SSRs) are likely to ensure progress towards the Europe 2020 social inclusion objectives.
Category: Reports -
29/01/2014
UK benefit levels ‘inadequate’
The level of many social security benefits in the UK is 'manifestly inadequate', according to a report published by the Council of Europe.
The report was authored by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), made up of independent experts. The mission of the ECSR is to judge whether states are conforming with the provisions of the European Social Charter.
Category: Reports -
21/01/2014
Basic income scheme for children in Europe
A Europe-wide universal child benefit programme could reduce child poverty and the poverty gap throughout Europe, according to a briefing paper produced by UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children. Moreover, it says, significant reductions in child poverty could be achieved without disproportionate cost.
Category: Reports -
24/12/2013
Poverty and social exclusion trends in Europe
The global economic crisis reversed the previous progress made by many EU countries in reducing relative poverty and material deprivation, according to a Belgian think tank report. Some of the poorest member states and most vulnerable groups have been affected the most.
The report attempts to get a better understanding of trends in poverty and inequality in Europe during the last decade, by analysing large-scale cross-country datasets, in particular the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) and the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC).
Category: Reports -
03/12/2013
Poverty and inequality in Europe – recent trends
There was a 'surprising' standstill during the last decade in poverty reduction in Europe, despite generally positive political and economic circumstances, says a new report from an Antwerp-based think tank.
The researchers analyse trends found in large-scale cross-country datasets, in particular the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) and the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC).
Category: Reports
