However, the work the staff at that august organisation produce is often of extraordinarily high value. Take the report that the IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities has published in collaboration with the Nuffield Foundation. It takes a medical scalpel and uses it to cut to the heart of the problem with welfare reform.
It finds that successive changes to the benefits system have indeed led to higher employment and strengthened the financial incentives to move into work. A good thing in principle, for sure. Being in work is clearly better - and more financially rewarding - than being out of work. And the numbers appear impressive: 100,000 more single parents in jobs with evidence (albeit limited) that universal credit (UC) has sped up claimants' return to the labour market.
As to those financial rewards: back in 1997 to 1998, low earners with children on average lost 50p in lower benefits or higher taxes for every £1 earned through moving into part-time work.
Today the figure is 38p. The national living wage is £9.50 per hour. The difference between the net hourly wage (after taxes paid and benefits withdrawn) is now around £5.90 rather than £4.70.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin February 02, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin February 02, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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