scholarly journals The impact of welfare reform in London - using benefits data to track the effect of government policies on employment outcomes

Author(s):  
Giovanni Tonutti

BackgroundThe last three parliamentary terms have marked a period of unprecedented change for the UK welfare system. Alongside reducing public spending, boosting behavioural incentives has represented the overarching drive behind the majority of reforms introduced. ObjectivesPolicy in Practice has pooled benefits data across nineteen of thirty-two London boroughs to track changes in living standards and the impact of welfare reforms on low-income Londoners over a period of two years. This paper models and assesses the impact of two flagship welfare reforms on households’ behavioural responses. The policies analysed are the benefit cap and the impact of Universal Credit on selfemployed households. MethodsThe project has gathered a sample of over 570,000 real households. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support data has been collected from participating local authorities on a monthly basis for two years. The study combines complex policy modelling to forecast the future impact of Universal Credit on the living standards of self-employed households, with a Difference-in-Difference regression to understand the impact of the benefit cap on the employment outcomes of households affected. FindingsThe findings of the analysis indicate a positive impact of the benefit cap on employment outcomes, with a difference in employment rates of 3.5 percentage points in favour of households affected by the cap, compared to the control group. At the same time, the model forecasts significant income losses for self-employed households as the result of the application of a Minimum Income Floor under Universal Credit, with an average income reduction of £341 p/m. ConclusionThe research highlights the potential of locally held administrative data in systematically tracking the impact of policies and the effectiveness of government interventions. This work fits within the broader mission of Policy in Practice to promote an outcome-based approach to the design and delivery of social policy.

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e041599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary McCauley ◽  
Joanna Raven ◽  
Nynke van den Broek

ObjectiveTo assess the experience and impact of medical volunteers who facilitated training workshops for healthcare providers in maternal and newborn emergency care in 13 countries.SettingsBangladesh, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, UK and Zimbabwe.ParticipantsMedical volunteers from the UK (n=162) and from low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) (n=138).Outcome measuresExpectations, experience, views, personal and professional impact of the experience of volunteering on medical volunteers based in the UK and in LMIC.ResultsUK-based medical volunteers (n=38) were interviewed using focus group discussions (n=12) and key informant interviews (n=26). 262 volunteers (UK-based n=124 (47.3%), and LMIC-based n=138 (52.7%)) responded to the online survey (62% response rate), covering 506 volunteering episodes. UK-based medical volunteers were motivated by altruism, and perceived volunteering as a valuable opportunity to develop their skills in leadership, teaching and communication, skills reported to be transferable to their home workplace. Medical volunteers based in the UK and in LMIC (n=244) reported increased confidence (98%, n=239); improved teamwork (95%, n=232); strengthened leadership skills (90%, n=220); and reported that volunteering had a positive impact for the host country (96%, n=234) and healthcare providers trained (99%, n=241); formed sustainable partnerships (97%, n=237); promoted multidisciplinary team working (98%, n=239); and was a good use of resources (98%, n=239). Medical volunteers based in LMIC reported higher satisfaction scores than those from the UK with regards to impact on personal and professional development.ConclusionHealthcare providers from the UK and LMIC are highly motivated to volunteer to increase local healthcare providers’ knowledge and skills in low-resource settings. Further research is necessary to understand the experiences of local partners and communities regarding how the impact of international medical volunteering can be mutually beneficial and sustainable with measurable outcomes.


10.37512/700 ◽  
2020 ◽  

Poor quality complementary foods contribute to undernutrition in children aged 6-23 months. Therefore, there is need to explore foods that will provide adequate nutrients for this age group. This study aimed at determining the impact of a sorghum-amaranth composite flour porridge on nutrient intake of children aged 6-23 months. A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Kiandutu slum, Thika, Kenya. Children in the control group (CG), received a maize-sorghum flour while those in the treatment group (TG) received an amaranth-sorghum flour. The sample size per study group was 73 mother-child pairs. The children in the TG received Kcal 1000 worth of porridge/day while those in the CG received Kcal 266.8/day. Mothers of children in both groups were given nutrition education at baseline, and monthly, for six months. Food intake data was taken at baseline, then monthly for six months. Descriptive statistics were used to describe nutrient intake. Chi square and Mann Whitney U test were was used to compare the baseline characteristics of the two groups and their nutrient intake, respectively. At baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. On a monthly basis, nutrient intake in the TG was significantly higher for a majority of the nutrients than in the CG. The product can contribute to preventing under-nutrition in children aged 6-23 months.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
JON ORD ◽  
MARC CARLETTI ◽  
DANIELE MORCIANO ◽  
LASSE SIURALA ◽  
CHRISTOPHE DANSAC ◽  
...  

Abstract This article examines young people’s experiences of open access youth work in settings in the UK, Finland, Estonia, Italy and France. It analyses 844 individual narratives from young people, which communicate the impact of youthwork on their lives. These accounts are then analysed in the light of the European youth work policy goals. It concludes that it is encouraging that what young people identify as the positive impact of youth work are broadly consistent with many of these goals. There are however some disparities which require attention. These include the importance young people place on the social context of youth work, such as friendship, which is largely absent in EU youth work policy; as well as the importance placed on experiential learning. The paper also highlights a tension between ‘top down’ policy formulation and the ‘youth centric’ practices of youth work. It concludes with a reminder to policy makers that for youth work to remain successful the spaces and places for young people must remain meaningful to them ‘on their terms’.


2020 ◽  
pp. jech-2020-214770
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Richardson ◽  
Martin Taulbut ◽  
Mark Robinson ◽  
Andrew Pulford ◽  
Gerry McCartney

BackgroundLife expectancy (LE) improvements have stalled, and UK tax and welfare ‘reforms’ have been proposed as a cause. We estimated the effects of tax and welfare reforms from 2010/2011 to 2021/2022 on LE and inequalities in LE in Scotland.MethodsWe applied a published estimate of the cumulative income impact of the reforms to the households within Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles. We estimated the impact on LE by applying a rate ratio for the impact of income on mortality rates (by age group, sex and SIMD quintile) and calculating the difference between inflation-only changes in benefits and the reforms.ResultsWe estimated that changes to household income resulting from the reforms would result in an additional 1041 (+3.7%) female deaths and 1013 (+3.8%) male deaths. These deaths represent an estimated reduction of female LE from 81.6 years to 81.2 years (−20 weeks), and male LE from 77.6 years to 77.2 years (−23 weeks). Cuts to benefits and tax credits were modelled to have the most detrimental impact on LE, and these were estimated to be most severe in the most deprived areas. The modelled impact on inequalities in LE was widening of the gap between the most and least deprived 20% of areas by a further 21 weeks for females and 23 weeks for males.InterpretationThis study provides further evidence that austerity, in the form of cuts to social security benefits, is likely to be an important cause of stalled LE across the UK.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 01060
Author(s):  
Sibel Demir Kaçan ◽  
Fatma Şahin

The research aims to determine “the Impact of Scientific Creative Thinking Skills on Scientific Process Skills”. Thus, the research was performed with 24 teacher candidates in the control group and 24 teacher candidates in the experimental group in the second class of the Department of Science Teaching in a university in Istanbul Province. In the experimental group of the research, the laboratory program to be designed by the researchers on the basis of scientific discussion and research; and in the control group, the conventionally designed laboratory program were applied for an academic semester. The research data was gained through “Scientific Creativity Test” to be developed by Hu and Adey [14] and adapted by Kadayıfçı [16]; “Scientific Process Skills Test” to be developed by Okey, Wise and Burns, and adapted by Geban, Aşkar and Özkan into Turkish. The conclusions to be reached by the research are in favour of the experimental group and the last application, and it has positive impact on the opinions of the teacher candidates related with the development of the scientific creativity skills.


Author(s):  
Geoffrey Meen ◽  
Christine Whitehead

Affordability is, perhaps, the greatest housing problem facing households today, both in the UK and internationally. Even though most households are now well housed, hardship is disproportionately concentrated among low-income and younger households. Our failure to deal with their problems is what makes housing so frustrating. But, to improve outcomes, we have to understand the complex economic and political forces which underlie their continued prevalence. There are no costless solutions, but there are new policy directions that can be explored in addition to those that have dominated in recent years. The first, analytic, part of the book considers the factors that determine house prices and rents, household formation and tenure, housing construction and the roles played by housing finance and taxation. The second part turns to examine the impact of past policy and the possibilities for improvement - discussing supply and the impact of planning regulation, supply subsidies, subsidies to low-income tenants and attempts to increase home ownership. Rather than advocating a particular set of policies, the aim is to consider the balance of policies; the constraints under which housing policy operates; what can realistically be achieved; the structural changes that would need to occur; and the significant sacrifices that would have to be made by some groups if there are to be improvements for others. Our emphasis is on the UK but throughout the book we also draw on international experience and our conclusions have relevance to analysts and policy makers across the developed world.


Author(s):  
ULVA NUR HIDAYAH ◽  
NIKE WIDURI ◽  
SYARIFAH MARYAM

The establishment of oil palm companies let impact on society.  The purpose of this study was to know the social and economic impact of  the establishment of oil palm company on the community. This research was conducted from May to July 2019 in Loleng Village, Kota Bangun District, Kutai Kartanegara District. Oil palm company exists in there namely PT. Prima Mitrajaya Mandiri.  Number of respondents was as many as 44 respondents divided into two parts, namely 22 respondents are residing close to the company and 22 respondents are living far away from the company. The method of data analysis that used was descriptive analysis. The research results showed that oil palm company let  positive impact on the community who live near to the company. The establishment of  company opens employment opportunities,  increases people's living standards, and opens business opportunities.   The company gives many help for community lives near the company such as financial assistance to orphans, school repair assistance, and road repair assistance. People who live far away from the company  did not have the positive impact.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-82
Author(s):  
Shahina Imran ◽  
Rana M. Imran Arshad

Purpose: This paper investigates impact of microfinance on household income and employment. It is a primary data research conducted in the Bahawalpur division, Pakistan. The study employed the tool developed by Assessing the Impact of Microenterprise Services (AIMS) and Small Enterprise, Education and Promotion (SEEP). The tool has been modified in local context. The sample consists of 1524 respondents, out of which 773 are established clients (treatment group) and 751 are incoming ones (control group), belonging to different microfinance providers of Pakistan.  Independent Sample T-Test and Multiple regressions have been used for analysis. The regression analysis shows that participation to microfinance program has strong positive impact on household income while very minute positive impact on employment. Other independent variables such as prior access to any other loan, micro saving, household assets, age of respondent, gender, education and household size have positive impact on household income but a mixed impact on income generating activities.


Author(s):  
Richard Dorsett ◽  
Lucy Stokes

Apprenticeships are the key means by which the UK government aims to build skills and tackle the problem of youth unemployment. However, not all young people are able to secure an apprenticeship. Traineeships, a voluntary six-month programme of work placements and work preparation training, were introduced in England in 2013 to help equip young people with the skills and experience required to secure an apprenticeship or employment. The analysis in this paper uses linked administrative data on the population of trainees and a comparison sample of non-trainees to evaluate the impact of the programme on employment and apprenticeships. It uses a local instrumental variable approach, which allows selection into a traineeship to be influenced by unobserved preferences and for impacts to vary according to these preferences. The heterogeneous impacts can be aggregated to form an estimate of the average impact of treatment for all participants. The results show no overall impact on employment for younger trainees (16-18 year-olds) but an across-the-board positive impact on the probability of becoming an apprentice. For older trainees (19-23 year-olds), no significant impact on either employment or apprenticeships is evident among participants as a whole but the results suggest that, for those more resistant to participating, traineeships may actually reduce the probability of becoming an apprentice. These results confirm the effectiveness of traineeships as a means of facilitating apprenticeships among younger people. As such, they support the policy target of achieving 3 million apprenticeships by 2020.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal Bouoiyour ◽  
Amal Miftah

This article attempts to assess empirically the impact of remittances on household expenditure and relative poverty in Morocco. We apply propensity score matching methods to the 2006/2007 Moroccan Living Standards Measurement Survey. We find that migrants’ remittances can improve living standards among Moroccan households and affect negatively the incidence of poverty. The results show a statistically significant and positive impact of hose remittances on recipient households’ expenditures. They are also significantly associated with a decline in the probability of being in poverty for rural households; it decreases by 11.3 percentage points. In comparison, this probability decreases by 3 points in urban area.  


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