Distributional impacts of cash allowances for children: a microsimulation analysis for Russia and Europe
Author
Daria Popova
Publication Date
Jan 2014
Abstract
This paper analyses programmes of cash allowances for children and compares their effectiveness in combating child poverty in Russia and four EU countries – Sweden, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom. These countries are selected as representatives of alternative family policy models. Using microsimulation models (RUSMOD and EUROMOD), this paper estimates the potential gains if the Russian system were re-designed along the policy parameters of these countries and vice versa. Such an exercise rests on the idea of policy learning and provides policy relevant evidence on how a policy would perform, given different national socio-economic and demographic settings. The results confirm that the poverty impact of the program design is smaller than that of the level of spending. Other conditions being equal, the best outcomes for children are achieved by applying the mix of universal and means-tested child benefits, such as those employed by the UK and Belgium. At the same time, the Russian design of child allowances does not appear to be less effective in terms of its impact on child poverty when transferred to European countries in place of their current arrangements.
Publication type
EUROMOD Working Paper Series
Series Number
EM2/14
Research areas
Family and gender, Population changes and labour market dynamics, Tax and benefit systems
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