- Paris
- CERC[version française]
"Online Information Service dealing with poverty, social minima, inwork benefits, minimum wages, etc. Working papers and articles from several countries (France, Germany, UK, USA, etc.), published by think tanks, public institutions, etc. dealing with these issues are available online. You will also find on this website our Information Service Bulletin which is a selection of recent articles in relation with our field of expertise (Employment, Income, Social cohesion, etc.). The website is regularly updated and the bulletin published twice a month. (...) The CERC is to contribute to the knowledge on income, social inequalities and links between employment, income and social cohesion. It is also up to the CERC to draw up appraisals about social inequalities and redistribution mechanisms as well as to draw the government's attention and the public opinion to desirable changes and evolutions."

NOTE: This body was created by a decree of the French government in April 2000 to aid the national policy-making process. In Canada, the was created by an Act of Parliament in 1969 to advise the federal Minister of Health and Welfare (now Social Development Canada) on matters relating to the welfare of Canadians.

Bulletins/Reports/Studies/Working papers - Click on the links in the left margin of the CERC website home page for links to a large collection of online resources including a semi-monthly research bulletin - To be informed of CERC activities and to receive the bulletin

TIP: If you haven't visited the CERC website yet and you'd like a good flavour of what you'll find there, I'd highly recommend that you peruse a few recent issues of the (which is available free by subscription), then select one of the (Poverty - Social minima - In-work benefits - Minimum wage - Unemployment and return to work ). On the next page, click the links in the right hand margin to access the reports. Most of the reports are in French, but there are thousands of titles (1500 under Poverty alone), and you'll find enough in English to make it worth a visit...
SUB-TIP: many of the studies that appear in the CERC bulletin include Canada and the U.S. in their international comparisons of social policies and social programs - very interesting analysis!

"The Cerc has open an online information service related to its fields of expertise (employment, income, social cohesion). Four themes are already open : poverty, social minima, in-work benefits and minimum wage. Other themes will be soon on line." - incl. links to : Concepts, definitions (General principles, Monetary poverty, Subjective poverty, deprivation, Statistics criteria, Statistics and general studies, Discussions, critics) - Populations (Working poor, Children, families, Young people, Gender studies, Single parent, Elderly people) - Poverty dynamics - Fight against poverty (Growth, Labor market, Social transfers, Health) - Recommended websites - information about minimum wages in France, Europe, OECD countries (Canada and U.S. included...) - extensive collection of information organized under the following headings: Legislation and implementation - Facts and figures - Minimum wage and employment - Minimum wage and wage formation - Minimum wage and living standard - Discussion - links to minimum wage sites and content from: FRANCE - GERMANY - BELGIUM - SPAIN - IRELAND - THE NETHERLANDS - UNITED KINGDOM - UNITED STATES - CANADA - INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS - information about poverty in France, Europe, OECD countries (Canada and U.S. included...) - links to resources are organized under the following headings: Concepts, definitions : General principles - Monetary poverty - Subjective poverty, deprivation - Statistics criteria - Statistics and general studies - Discussions, critics Populations : Working poor - Children, families - Young people - Gender studies - Single parent - Elderly people Poverty dynamics Fight against poverty : Growth - Labor market - Social transfers - Health Recommended websites - Financial assistance programs of last resort, guaranteed annual income, revenu minimum d'insertion, etc. - incl. links to : General texts - Descriptions of programs (France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States Canada) - Statistics : populations, expenditures - Impacts of the Social minima (redistribution, employment, living conditions) - Recommended websites - incl links to : Description of the systems - Effects of the systems (Labour market and employment, Incomes, Living conditions) - In-work benefits : a debate - Recommended websites Benefits are organized under two categories: - allowances or tax credits triggered under the condition that the beneficiary has an activity, salaried or not - financial support, within unemployment insurance and social minima systems, for people returning to work.

Selected content from CERC Bulletins:

NOTE : all of the links below were selected from past issues of the semi-monthly CERC Bulletin.
[]

. (PDF file - 543K, 28 pages),, Brasilia, January 2008 (International data)

. (PDF file - 896K, 65 pages) - (United Kingdom), G. Cooke and K. Lawton, , London, January 2008

. (PDF file - 969K, 8 pages), T. Finkle, H. Hartmann, and S. Lee, , Washington, December 2007

. (U.S.) , (PDF file, 31 pages) B. D. Meyer and J. X. Sullivan, , Chicago, Working paper, n° 07-21, September (2007).
Summary:
This paper examines income and consumption based measures of poverty for those 65 and over between 1972 and 2004. This study contributes to the existing literature on poverty in several ways. First, we construct consumption based measures of poverty that improve upon measures used in previous studies.(...) Second, we provide estimates of consumption based poverty for those 65 and over using the most recent data through 2004. Third, we examine the effect on poverty trends of alternative price indices, equivalence scales, and resource sharing units (the family or household). Fourth, in addition to poverty rates, which focus on the cumulative distribution function at a single point, we also study extreme poverty, near poverty and poverty gaps in order to examine more fully the trends in well-being of older individuals.

. (U.K.) , (PDF file, 32 pages), M. Tomlinson, R. Walker and G. Williams, , Oxford (2007).
Summary:
While poverty is widely accepted to be an inherently multi-dimensional concept, it has proved very difficult to develop measures that both capture this multi-dimensionality and facilitate comparison of trends over time. Structural Equation Modelling appears to offer a solution to this conundrum and is used to exploit the British Household Panel Study to create a multidimensional measure of poverty. The analysis reveals that the decline in poverty in Britain between 1991 and 2003 was driven by falls in material deprivation, but more especially by reduced financial stress particularly during the early 1990s. The limitations and potential of the new approach are critically discussed

. (U.S.) , (PDF file, 14 pages), , Washington, Report, n°)

. (France) , (PDF file, 94 pages), M. Marpsat, , Paris, Documents de travail, n° ).

. (Europe) ,(PDF file, 85 pages), P. Kaia and R. Eamets, , Dublin (2007).

. , (K. Edmark, , Stockholm, IFAU working paper, n° 2007-22, October, 43 p., (2007).
Summary:

- updated October 29, 2007
- links (in the right-hand margin) to 300 documents (statistics, working papers, reports) and websites
- incl. links to resources under the following headings:
* * * * * * *
(includes links to Canadian resources)

United Kingdom:
. (PDF file - 264K, 24 pages)
By D. Hirsch, , London, September 2007

. (PDF file - 953K, 72 pages)
By S. McKay and A. Atkinson, , London, 2007

United States
. (PDF file - 80K, 5 pages)
By A. Aron-Dine, , Washington, October 2007

Europe
. (PDF file - 292K, 85 pages)
By , Bruxelles, October 2007

OECD countries
. , (PDF file - 119K, 20 pages)
By S. Himmelweit and H. Land, (Vienna, 20-22 September 2007)

September 3, 2007
Click the link above to access the articles and reports listed below - and many more...
* (U.S.) Concentrated poverty : Dynamics of change, G. T. Kingsley and K. L. S. Pettit, The Urban Institute, Washington, Neighborhood change in urban America, n° 5, August, 16 p., (2007).
* The dynamics and persistence of poverty : evidence from Italy, F. Devicienti and V. Gualtieri, Laboratorio R. Revelli, Moncalieri, Working paper, n° 63, August, 47 p., (2007).
* Income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the United States : 2006, C. DeNavas, B. D. Proctor and J. Smith, Census Bureau, Washington, August, 78 p., (2007).
* The evolution of inequality in productivity and wages : Panel data evidence, G. Faggio, K. G. Salvanes and J. Van Reenen, Centre for Economic Performance, London, CEP discussion paper, n° 0821, August, 66 p., (2007).
* Rescaling social welfare policies in Denmark : national report, C. Thorgaard and H. Vinther, The Danish National Centre for Social Research, Copenhagen, Working paper, n° 10, August, 58 p., (2007).

Of special interest to welfare reform researchers:

* , (PDF file - 164K, 61 pages), J. Waldfogel, , London, CASE/126, July, 31 p., (2007).
Summary : This paper examines the effects of recent welfare reforms in the US and UK on the well-being of children in low-income families, looking specifically at the effects on poverty, family expenditures, and child health and development. The paper finds some commonalities but also some notable differences. Common to both countries is a sizable reduction in child poverty, although the reduction in child poverty in the US has been less, and some families appear to have been left behind. Expenditure data also point to divergence across the two countries. In the UK, low-income families affected by the reforms are spending more money on items related to children and are more likely to own a car and a phone, while in the US, families affected by welfare reforms are primarily spending more money on items related to employment but not items for children. Finally, a common finding across countries is a relative dearth of more direct evidence on the well-being of children, and specifically how the reforms have affected child health and development. Identifying such effects remains an important topic for further research.

U.S.
, (PDF file - 246K, 30 pages)
June 2007
S. W. Allard
, Ann Arbor, NPC working paper series, n° 07-18
Summary:
Most scholars of American social policy do not associate significant change in welfare policy with the presidential administration of George W. Bush. No major welfare policy initiatives were passed during the first term of the Bush residency. Welfare cash assistance caseloads have remained fairly constant since 2001. Block grant funding for state welfare programs has remained at $16.5 billion annually. The poverty rate has increased from 11.3 percent in 2000 to 12.6 percent in 2005, but the number of persons in poverty remains below the historic highs of the early 1990s (U.S. Census Bureau 2006b). Compared to the War on Terror, tax cuts, budget deficits, and Medicare drug coverage, welfare and poverty simply have not been prominent issues in the minds of the public or many policymakers.

, (PDF file - 400K, 41 pages)
June 2007
R. S. Jones
, Paris, Economics department working papers, n° 556
Summary: Income inequality and relative poverty among the working-age population in Japan have risen to levels above the OECD average. This trend is partially explained by labour market dualism, with an increasing proportion of non-regular workers who are paid significantly less than regular workers, as well as by other factors, including the ageing of the workforce. Social spending as a share of GDP has been expanding in the context of population ageing, although it remains below the OECD average and the proportion received by low-income households is small. Consequently, the impact of social spending on inequality and poverty is weak compared to other OECD countries and inadequate to offset the deterioration in market income. The scope for increasing social spending is constrained by the fiscal situation. Instead, reversing the upward trend in inequality and poverty requires reforms to reduce labour market dualism and better target social spending on low-income households, particularly single parents.

(PDF file - K, 122 pages)
June 2007
N. Smith and S. Middleton
, London

(PDF file - K, 58 pages)
2007
M. Magadi and S. Middleton
, London

U.S.
(PDF file - K, 56 pages)
O. Golden and alii,
June 2007
, Washington, Low-income working families, paper n° 7

- June 14, 2007
The topic “Means-tested benefits” has been restructured.
- new headings have been added
- an introduction to the main means-tested benefits (France, European countries, United States, Canada)
- a statistical portal
- updated recommended websites
(Approximately 600 documents are online.)

(PDF file - 803K, 28 pages), multiple authors, , Brasilia, Poverty in Focus,
June 2007
Geographical area : International data (incl. Canada)

(PDF file - 325K, 22 pages), A. Barrientos, , Manchester, CPRC working paper, n° 76,
May 2007
Summary : The paper discusses whether vulnerability generates poverty traps. It contains a review of models of poverty traps and a discussion of whether these can accommodate vulnerability; it also includes a discussion of the empirical evidence available in support of these models and a discussion of their policy implications. The conclusions of this study delineate an important area of research, to which the CPRC is in a position to make a significant contribution. A clearer perspective on how to approach the linkages between vulnerability and persistent poverty, and a stronger, and comparative, body of evidence are needed to make the case that risk and vulnerability are significant factors behind poverty traps. The research planned under the Insecurity, Risk and Vulnerability theme of the CPRC will aim to develop a conceptual framework for examining the links between insecurity and vulnerability on the one hand and chronic poverty on the other. Special attention will be given to developing research in two areas: household dynamics and informality. The effectiveness of policy options will be assessed.
Geographical area : None

(PDF file - K, 7 pages), J. Schmitt, , Washington, Issue brief
June 2007
(Apples and oranges - it's all how you define it...)
Geographical area : United States, Sweden

, (PDF file - 463K, 26 pages), M. Ferrera, (Research Unit on European Governance), Moncalieri, URGE working paper n° 4, 2007 (posted June 6 2007)
Geographical area : Europe

, (PDF file - 1.2MB, 492 pages), L. Hoxhallari, A. Conolly and N. Lyon, , London, Research report, n° 424
May 2007
Summary : The 2005 Families and Children Study (FACS) is the seventh in a series of annual surveys, which investigate the circumstances of British families with dependent children. This report presents descriptive findings, and is divided into a number of chapters, each of which looks at distinct features of family life. The first part of the report focuses on the circumstances, lives and conditions of families, and topics covered include: family characteristics, health, education, work, income, benefits and tax credits, social capital and material deprivation. The second part of the report focuses on the circumstances, conditions and lives of children, and topics covered include: child

(PDF file - 803K, 28 pages), multiple authors, , Brasilia, Poverty in Focus,
June 2007
Geographical area : International data (incl. Canada)

(PDF file - 325K, 22 pages), A. Barrientos, , Manchester, CPRC working paper, n° 76,
May 2007
Summary : The paper discusses whether vulnerability generates poverty traps. It contains a review of models of poverty traps and a discussion of whether these can accommodate vulnerability; it also includes a discussion of the empirical evidence available in support of these models and a discussion of their policy implications. The conclusions of this study delineate an important area of research, to which the CPRC is in a position to make a significant contribution. A clearer perspective on how to approach the linkages between vulnerability and persistent poverty, and a stronger, and comparative, body of evidence are needed to make the case that risk and vulnerability are significant factors behind poverty traps. The research planned under the Insecurity, Risk and Vulnerability theme of the CPRC will aim to develop a conceptual framework for examining the links between insecurity and vulnerability on the one hand and chronic poverty on the other. Special attention will be given to developing research in two areas: household dynamics and informality. The effectiveness of policy options will be assessed.
Geographical area : None

(PDF file - K, 7 pages), J. Schmitt, , Washington, Issue brief
June 2007
(Apples and oranges - it's all how you define it...)
Geographical area : United States, Sweden

, (PDF file - 463K, 26 pages), M. Ferrera, (Research Unit on European Governance), Moncalieri, URGE working paper n° 4, 2007 (posted June 6 2007)
Geographical area : Europe

, (PDF file - 1.2MB, 492 pages), L. Hoxhallari, A. Conolly and N. Lyon, , London, Research report, n° 424
May 2007
Summary : The 2005 Families and Children Study (FACS) is the seventh in a series of annual surveys, which investigate the circumstances of British families with dependent children. This report presents descriptive findings, and is divided into a number of chapters, each of which looks at distinct features of family life. The first part of the report focuses on the circumstances, lives and conditions of families, and topics covered include: family characteristics, health, education, work, income, benefits and tax credits, social capital and material deprivation. The second part of the report focuses on the circumstances, conditions and lives of children, and topics covered include: child characteristics, health, schooling, children’s activities, and childcare.

(PDF file - 866K, 38 pages)
By R. H. DeFina,
April 2007
[Abstract] This study provides empirical evidence on recent trends in poverty among working families based on the headcount rate and a broader alternative that incorporates the headcount rate, the depth of poverty, and income inequality among the poor. Estimates reveal that the indexes produce significantly different trends. The headcount rate indicates a reduction in overall working poverty for the sample period, while the alternative index showed no statistically significant change. The same result was found for various population subgroups. Decompositions of the index changes show that tax changes contributed to lower values for both the headcount rate and the alternative index, largely due to recent expansions of the earned income tax credit. Changes in transfer payments added to measured poverty, mirroring the retrenchment of welfare and other transfer programs. Shifts in market-based income decreased both indexes.

(PDF file - 237K, 32 pages)
By H. J. Holzer,
April 2007
[Abstract] In this paper, we review a range of rigorous research studies that estimate the average statistical relationships between children growing up in poverty and their earnings, propensity to commit crime, and quality of health later in life. We also review estimates of the costs that crime and poor health per person impose on the economy. Then we aggregate all of these average costs per poor child across the total number of children growing up in poverty in the U.S. to estimate the aggregate costs of child poverty to the U.S. economy. Our results suggest that the costs to the U.S. associated with childhood poverty total about $500 billion per year, or the equivalent of nearly 4 percent of GDP.

(PDF file - 4.2MB, 91 pages)
From (Brussels)
January 2007
[Excerpt]The fight against child poverty and social exclusion is at the core of Eurochild’s work programme. A key element of this is the monitoring of the National Action Plans on Social Inclusion (NAPs/Incl) from a children’s rights perspective. This report is a synthesis of the country analyses produced by NGOs and national experts of Member States’ national action plans for social inclusion.

- April 2007 (PDF file - 486K, 20 pages), A. L. Rogers and C. L. Ryan, , Washington, Current population reports, n° P70-110

- January 2007 (PDF file - 3.3MB, 347 pages), European Commission, , Brussels

(Europe) - March 2007 , .

(U.S.) - April 2007 (PDF file - 2.9MB, 19 pages), E. N. Wolff, A. Zacharias and H. Kum, .

(OECD countries) - March 2007 (PDF file - 2.9MB, 50 pages) J. I. Conde-Ruiz and P. Profeta, , Madrid, Documento de trabajo, n° 2007-07
Summary : Countries with low intragenerational redistribution in social security systems (Bismarckian) are associated with larger public pension expenditures, a smaller fraction of private pension and lower income inequality than countries with more redistributive social security (Beveridgean). This paper introduces a bidimensional voting model to account for these features.

. (PDF file - 181K, 23 pages), R. Aaberge and M. Mogstad, , Bonn, IZA discussion paper, n° 2659, March 2007.
Summary :
As an alternative to the conventional methods for measuring chronic poverty, this paper proposes an interpersonal comparable measure of permanent income as a basis for defining and measuring chronic poverty. This approach accounts for the fact that individuals regularly undertake inter-period income transfers. Moreover, the approach allows for individual-specific interest rates on borrowing and saving as well as for the presence of liquidity constraints. Due to the general nature the proposed method proves useful for evaluating the theoretical basis of the standard methods for measuring chronic poverty.

. " (PDF file - 3.9MB, 12 pages) in Jan-March 2007 Network News, the newsletter of the , Brussels

.,(PDF file - 120K, 18 pages) M. Lefèbvre, , Luxembourg, LIS working paper, n° 457, March 2007.
Summary :
Pension systems differ across European countries according to various characteristics. But every one operates some redistribution within cohort. This paper analyses the comparative intragenerational redistributive performances of public pension transfers using data from the Luxembourg Income Study. The analysis shows that there is wide variation among the countries but that these differences can be explained by the characteristics of the systems. It is also shown that redistribution does not occur the same way among subgroups of population and that older women are the less favoured by the pension systems

., U.K. (PDF file - 2.4MB, 144 pages) D. Freud, , London, An independant report, March 2007.

. (PDF file - 330K, 20 pages), March 2007, , Geneva

. - U.S., (PDF file - 62K, 16 pages) , Washington, February 2007.

. (PDF file - 1.28MB, 25 pages) R. J. Harrison, Y. Li and C. Gouveia, , Washington, (2007)

. (PDF file - 4.2MB, 389 pages)March 2007,, London.

. , (PDF File - 399K, 26 pages) European Commission, , Brussels, 28 p., (2007).

(PDF file - 1.2MB, 231 pages)
Published November 2006, posted February 2007
"This report is the most comprehensive synthesis of analyses of the changes in labour market, incomes and social inequalities in France. French data are systematically compared with data of other countries of the E U."
NOTE: the French version of this report includes Excel versions of all tables and graphics, along with hyperlinks to many of the references at the end of the report. These features are not available in the English version of the report.

Français:
(fichier PDF - 3,2Mo., 242 pages)
"Ce rapport est la synthèse la plus complète à ce jour des analyses de l’évolution de l’emploi, des revenus et des inégalités sociales observées en France qui sont systématiquement comparées à celles observées dans les différents ays de l’Union européenne."
La consultation du rapport permet d'accéder :
- en format excel, aux tableaux et graphiques, à leurs sources ainsi qu'à quelques compléments ;
- aux textes cités en bibliographie.

Si vous n'avez pas encore visité le site Web du CERC et vous aimeriez voir ce que vous y trouverez, je vous recommanderais d'examiner quelques numéros du (offert gratuitement par abonnement) et ensuite d'explorer un des (La pauvreté - Les minima sociaux - Les compléments de revenus d'activité - Le salaire minimum - Le chômage et retour à l'emploi). À noter que plusieurs des études qui figurent dans le bulletin CERC incluent le Canada dans leurs comparaisons internationales...

. (PDF file - 1.05MB, 28 pages) H. Hartmann and alii, , Washington, Briefing paper, n° R334, December (2006).
Geographical area : United States

. (PDF file - 351K, 20 pages) UNDP, , Brasilia, Poverty in focus, December (2006).
Geographical area : International data

. (PDF file - 231K, 4 pages) S. Fass and N. K. Cauthe, , New York, December (2006).
Geographical area : United States

. (PDF file - 243K, 20 pages) A. Zaidi and M. Fuchs, , Vienna, Policy brief, December (2006).
Geographical area : Europe

. (PDF file - 220K, 10 pages) E. Maag, , Washington, Policy brief, tax policy, issues and options, n° 17, January (2007).
Geographical area : United States

. (PDF file - 250K, 4 pages) N. Elgrably, , IEDM, Montréal, Les notes économiques, décembre (2006).

(PDF file - 1.07MB, 184 pages)(United Kingdom), D. Collins and alii, London, Working paper, n° 34, September (2006).
Source:

(PDF file - 107K, 17 pages)(United Kingdom), R. Welters and J. Muysken, , Callaghan, Working paper, n° 06-04, August (2006).
This paper concentrates on the labour demand side to explain the incidence of long-term unemployment. We introduce a novel way to infer employer search behaviour, through deadweight loss incidence in wage subsidy schemes. Using a dataset on British firms participating in such schemes we distinguish between intensive and extensive employer search. Since intensive and extensive search behaviour affect the job find probability of (long-term) unemployed, our conclusions have significant labour market policy relevance. We find that firm size, firm structure and proposed hours worked influence the willingness of employers to recruit from long-term unemployed.
Source:

(PDF file - 78K, 6 pages) (United States), J. Bernstein and I. Shapiro, Washington, August (2006).
Source:

, (PDF file - 296K, 28 pages)L. Costabile and R. Scazzieri, Amherst, Working paper series, n° 117, July 2006.
This paper explores the relationship between economic growth and the welfare state. We argue that: (i) the institutional constraints set by the international monetary system may be at least as effective determinants of growth differentials between countries as the different dimensions of their welfare states. We show how this international system may impose an asymmetric discipline/flexibility mix on the macroeconomic policies of different countries, thereby influencing their growth performance.; (ii) the European currency reshapes some of the pre-existing constraints and also open up new opportunities; (iii) in the new international setting, Europe is facing a choice between alternative models. In one alternative, the “welfare system” needs to be reduced to a minimum; in the second, its role should be enhanced and made more active, through an appropriate mix of welfare policies oriented towards the promotion of social well-being and policies oriented towards the promotion of productive capacities.
Source:

Special : 10 years after welfare reform in the U.S.

. , (PDF file - 47K, 6 pages) from , Washington, June (2006).

. (PDF file - 203K, 8 pages) G. Rowe and L. Giannarelli, The Urban Institute, Washington, July (2006).

(PDF file - 72K, 4 pages), N. K. Cauthen, , New York, August (2006).

. (PDF file - 117K, 12pages), R Haskings, , Washington, Testimony, House Ways and Means Committee, July (2006).

. (PDF file - 244K, 16pages), S. Parrott and A. Sherman, , Washington, August (2006).

. (PDF file - K, 2 pages), E. Ganzglass, , Washington, August (2006).

. , (PDF file - 159K, 32 pages) J. Levin-Epstein, Center for Law and Social Policy, Washington, July (2006).

. (PDF file - 289K, 35 pages), B. Amable, L. Demmou and D. Gatti, , Paris, Working paper, n° 16, 35 p., (2006).
- including Canada
Résumé - Summary : This paper provides new evidence on the linkages between a large array of institutional arrangements (on product, labour and financial markets) and employment performance. Our analysis includes unemployment, inactivity and jobless rates, thus allowing us to control for possible substitution effects across situations of nonemployment and to check whether institutional rigidities affecting unemployment impact inactivity along the same line. To cope with common problems related to the inclusion of time-invariant institutional variables in fixed effects models, we present results of regressions based on three different estimators: PCSE, GLS and FEVD, the last one being a new procedure specifically designed to treat slowly changing variables. New institutional series are proposed, namely to account for unemployment insurance net replacement rates and employment protection legislation (EPL). Among other results, we find strong evidence of a positive effect of EPL on employment performance as well as of possible complementarities across product and labour markets regulation.
Zone géographique / Geographical area : Pays de l'OCDE / OECD countries

. , (PDF file - 370K, 34 pages) P. Heuveline and M. Weinshenker, Luxembourg Income Study, Luxembourg, LIS working paper, n° 441, June, (2006).
Summary : Children experience a higher poverty rate in the U.S. than in most comparable nations a poverty gap traceable to international differences in income redistribution across households rather than to market earnings. Using Luxembourg Income Study data, we find that child poverty rates are higher in the U.S. than in 13 out of 14 other high-income nations. The poverty rate for American children living with a single female and no other adult (55%) is the highest for any family structures in any nation. Using demographic decomposition, we isolate the contributions of several factors to the overall gap, including family-formation behaviors and living-arrangement decisions that place children in family structures with differential poverty risks (distributional effect), and differences in market earnings and transfer income between households headed by a married couple and other households with children (gradient effects). Distributional effects contribute to the U.S. poverty gap with every nation except the United Kingdom but are relatively small. Gradient effects in income redistribution are also of limited importance, and contribute to the U.S. gap with only some countries. These results demonstrate that overall differences in labor markets and welfare schemes best explain international child poverty gaps.
Geographical area : International comparisons

(PDF file - 267K, 8 pages)
Version française :
, H. Wilen, , Luxembourg, Statistiques en bref, science et technologie, n° 12/2006, 8 p., (2006).

., (PDF file - 302K, 43 pages). Tatsiramos, , Bonn, IZA discussion paper, n° 2280, August, 43 p., (2006).
Summary : The empirical literature on unemployment insurance has focused on its direct effect on unemployment duration, while the potential indirect effect on employment stability through a more efficient matching process, as the unemployed can search for a longer period, has attracted much less attention. In the European context this is surprising as reform proposals of the unemployment insurance system aiming at reducing high European unemployment rates should consider both effects. This paper provides evidence on the effect of unemployment benefits on unemployment and employment duration in Europe, using individual data from the European Community Household Panel for eight countries. Country specific estimates based on a multivariate discrete proportional hazard model, controlling for observed and unobserved individual heterogeneity, suggest that even if receiving benefits has a direct negative effect increasing the duration of unemployment spells, there is also a positive indirect effect of benefits on subsequent employment duration. This indirect effect is pronounced in countries with relatively generous benefit systems, and for recipients who have remained unemployed for at least six months. In terms of the magnitude of the effect, recipients remain employed on average two to four months longer than non-recipients. This represents a ten to twenty per cent increase relative to the average employment duration, compensating for the additional time spent in unemployment. These findings are in line with theories suggesting a matching effect of unemployment insurance.
Geographical area : Europe

. , by the , Dublin, (2006).
Geographical area : Europe

(PDF file - 471K, 8 pages), B. Chastenet et F. Trespeux, , Paris, Études et résultats, n° 514, août (2006).
[Available in French only]
Résumé - Summary : Fin 2005, près de 1,6 million de personnes étaient concernées par l’aide sociale départementale issue des lois de décentralisation de 1984 qui regroupe les aides aux personnes âgées, aux personnes handicapées et à l’enfance. En y ajoutant les allocataires du RMI (1,1 million), dont la gestion relève de la compétence des conseils généraux depuis 2004, le nombre total de ces bénéficiaires s’établissait donc à plus de 2,7 millions.
Depuis 2004, l’aide sociale destinée aux personnes âgées dépasse le million de bénéficiaires, en raison de la mise en œuvre progressive à partir de 2002 de l’allocation personnalisée d’autonomie (APA), qui concernait 921 000 personnes fin 2005. Le nombre de personnes handicapées bénéficiant de l’aide sociale (236 000 fin 2005) a également progressé en 2005 (+3%) ; parmi elles, près d’une sur deux bénéficiait de l’allocation compensatrice pour tierce personne (ACTP). Enfin, l’aide sociale à l’enfance (ASE) a concerné 272 000 bénéficiaires. L’écart entre les mesures éducatives (134 000) et les mesures de placement () a continué à se resserrer légèrement en 2005, les premières augmentant un peu plus que les secondes (+2% contre +1 %).
Geographical area : France

. , [PDF file - 82K, 10 pages] S. Parrott, E. Park and R. Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington, December, (2005).
Zone géographique / Geographical area : Etats-Unis / United States

. , (PDF file - 733K, 26 pages)US Department of Commerce / US Census Bureau, Washington, Special studies, n° P23-202, December (2005).
Zone géographique / Geographical area : Etats-Unis / United States

. , (PDF file - 721K, 57 pages) Cerc, Paris, Report n° 6, December (2005).
Zone géographique / Geographical area : France, Europe

. (PDF File - 1MB, 72 pages) H. Immervoll and D. Barber, OECD, Paris, OECD social, employment and migration working papers, n° 31, December, 76 p., (2005).
Geographical area : OECD countries

. , (PDF file - 2.1MB, 52 pages) C. Olivetti and B. Petrongolo, Centre for Economic Performance, London, CEP discussion paper, n° 711, December (2005). [United Kingdom, Europe, United States]

(PDF file - 136K, 17 pages)
March 2005
(France)
Selected content from this report:
- The rise in women’s employment - Greater employment in the service sector - Resorting to part-time work - Part-time jobs and personal service activities - The impact of new forms of organisation - Flexibility and manpower management - Trends in Employment Statuses - Why is it necessary to distinguish between job insecurity and employment insecurity? - Overall trends - Growing inequalities with respect to instability (young people, the over 50s) - Various uses of fixed-term or temporary contracts - Permanent and temporary contracts - An economic point of view on the employment legislation - Seeking overall coherence: the Dutch case - Job instability and social protection - health - pensions - Company supplementary insurance schemes - Unemployment compensation - Reforms have accentuated de facto inequalities - Continuing training - much more...

- Paris
[Selected Content]
February 14, 2005

. United States : (PDF file - 80K, 4 pages), , Washington (2005).

. France : (fichier PDF - 619Ko., 13 pages), , Paris (2005).

. France : (fichier PDF - 3.72MB, 108 pages), Rapport au Conseil national de l’habitat , , Paris, novembre (2004).

. France : (fichier PDF - 824Ko., 8 pages), S. Adjerad et M. Defosseux, , Paris, Premières synthèses, n° 06.1, février (2005).

. Europe : (PDF file - 521K, 47 pages), A. Clark and F. Postel-Vinay, , Bonn, IZA discussion paper, n° 1489, February, 47 p., (2005).

. Europe : , (fichier PDF - 245Ko., 67 pages), European Employment Observatory, Birmingham (2004).

. France : (fichier PDF - 222Ko., 54 pages), F. Kohler, , Paris, Document de travail, série statistiques, n° 73, janvier (2005).

. United States : (PDF file - 78K, 17 pages), J. Furman and R. Greenstein, , Washington, 17 p., (2005).

. Europe : (PDF file - 135K, 31 pages), M. A. Davia, , Colchester, ISER working papers, n° 2005-03, January (2005).

. Germany, Great Britain : (PDF file - 475K, 28 pages), A. Zaidi, J. R. Frick and F. Büchel, , London, CASEpaper, n° 89, December (2004).

. United Kingdom : (PDF file - 1MB, 96 pages), , London, February (2005).

(PDF file - 1.8MB, 149 pages)
January 2004
Version française:
(fichier PDF - 850Ko., 151 pages)
La documentation française, 2004
(fichier PDF - 63Ko., 6 pages)

. , M. Corbett and L. Kerrins,, Dublin, 16 p., (2004).
. , C. Corrigan, , Dublin, Working paper, n° 04/02, October, 59 p., (2004).
. France précaire, statistique d’accueil 2003, Secours catholique, Paris, novembre, 77 p., (2004).
. Innocenti social monitor 2004 : Economic growth and child poverty in the CEE/CIS and the Baltic States, UNICEF, Innocenti Research Centre, Florence, 144 p., (2004).
. / , Canada, Rapport du , Ottawa, Volume n° 122, automne, 161 p., (2004).
. , J. M. Williamson and T. M. Smeeding, , Chestnut Hill, CRR working paper, n° 2004-25, November, 44 p., (2004).
., M. Mlady, , Luxembourg, Statistiques en bref, Statistiques générales, n° 3/2004, 8 p., (2004).
[English version: ]
. Effective job search practice in the UK's mandatory welfare-to-work programme for youth, M. White, Policy Studies Institute, London, Research discussion papers, n° 17, (2004).
. , Submission to the Low Pay Commission by and YMCA England, London, November, 46 p., (2004).
. Economic inequality in Spain : The European Union Household Dataset, S. Budria and J. Diaz-Gimenez, FEDEA, Madrid, Documento de trabajo, n° 2004-24, October, 41 p., (2004).
. Les revenus des foyers fiscaux, Evolution sur 10 ans , Association des Maires de Grandes Villes de France, Paris, Etude, n° 208, Septembre, 131 p., (2004).
. , C. Howarth and P. Kenway, , London, 51 p., (2004).
. Observatoire national des zones urbaines sensibles Rapport 2004, Délégation interministérielle à la ville, Paris, novembre, 254 p., (2004).
. Rapport annuel du Défenseur des Enfants au Président de la République et au Parlement, Défenseur des enfants, Paris, 233 p., (2004).
. The 2005 Report : Education for all, the quality imperative, EFA Global Monitoring Report, Unesco, Paris, (2004).

(PDF file - 1.3MB, 42 pages) - July 2004
M. Matsaganis and alii, University of Cambridge, , Cambridge, EUROMOD working paper series
"The paper examines the effect of family transfers (used broadly to include contributory family allowances, non-contributory child benefits and tax credits or allowances) on child poverty in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal using the European microsimulation model EUROMOD.