Poverty Alleviation and the Degree of Centralisation in European Schemes of Social Assistance.

Publication Type
Working paper
Authors
Hölsch, K. / Kraus, M.
Year of publication
2003
Editor
Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung
Series/labeling
ZEW Discussion Paper, No. 03-16.
Keywords
Centralisation, Classification, POVERTY, Redistribution, Social Assistance
Abstract

In this paper, the relationship between the degree of centralisation and the distributive outcomes in European schemes of social assistance is investigated. For this purpose, a scheme of classification suitable for grouping the EU15 schemes except for Luxembourg according to features related to centralisation is established and an indicator for centralisation is developed. Subsequently, on the basis of LIS data the effectiveness and efficiency in reducing poverty through social assistance payments are calculated for five selected EU systems and the linkage of their distributive impacts to the degree of centralisation is examined.

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