Child poverty (measured as children living in a household below 60 per cent of median income) has remained unchanged. But … Continue reading “Seven thoughts on the child poverty target”

In a classic Beyond the Fringe sketch, Peter Cook is a cult leader sat atop a mountain awaiting the end … Continue reading “The death and rebirth of relative poverty figures”

To me, reducing poverty matters very much. That is why I believe in a market economy. However, I am entirely … Continue reading “Does inequality matter?”

With many ifs and buts, Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reforms are broadly moving in the right direction. Rather than just … Continue reading “IDS and the CSJ on child poverty: a critique and a defence”

What is ‘poverty’? It might sound a basic question but, when we hear about x percent of people ‘living in … Continue reading “The pressing need to redefine poverty”

Imagine our government managed to enact policies that brought down the cost of essential goods and services in this country, … Continue reading “When it comes to poverty, adequate policy responses require adequate measurement”

In the early 1960s, Chicago economist Milton Friedman travelled to Hong Kong to meet Sir John Cowperthwaite, the colony’s Financial … Continue reading “Switzerland has no official poverty statistics. So what?”

From the moment Frank Field raised doubts about the validity of relative poverty measures, the outrage industry has been up … Continue reading “Frank Field: speaking the unspeakable”

“Most children living in poverty are not from workless households”, writes the Guardian: “The number of children of working parents who … Continue reading “Is there any point working? Child poverty and parental employment”