Are European social safety nets tight enough? Coverage and adequacy of Minimum Income schemes in 14 EU countries

Authors

Francesco Figari, Manos Matsaganis, Holly Sutherland

Publication Date

Jun 2013

Summary

Coverage and adequacy of Minimum Income schemes in 14 EU countries This study explored and compared the effectiveness of Minimum Income (MI) schemes for persons of working age in the European Union (EU). Using the European microsimulation model EUROMOD, we estimated indicators of coverage and adequacy of MI schemes in 14 EU countries. In terms of coverage, we found that in several countries, some individuals are ineligible for MI even when they fall below a poverty line set at 40 per cent of median income. With respect to adequacy, we show that in certain countries, a large fraction of those entitled to MI remain at very low levels of income even when MI benefit is added. Overall, our findings suggest that MI schemes in Europe remain divergent, and that their clustering may be more complex than has hitherto been allowed for.

Volume and page numbers

Volume: 22 , p.3 -14

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2012.00885.x

Publication type

Journal Article

Notes

Is referenced by: Matsaganis, M., Leventi, C., & World Bank (2015) Ex ante poverty and fiscal evaluation of a guaranteed minimum income programme in Greece. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.

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