This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the tax and transfer systems in the EU and the US
to provide income insurance through automatic stabilization in the recent economic crisis …

We provide an overview of microsimulation approaches for assessing the effects of policy on
income distribution. We focus on the role of tax-benefit policies and review the concept of …

Although in-work poverty is not a new problem, the degree of attention it is receiving in
Europe is more recent, reflecting at least two concurrent sources of concern (Andreβ & …

The aim of this chapter is to highlight some key aspects of recent economic research on the
welfare state and antipoverty policy in rich countries and to explore their implications. We …

The current debt crisis has given rise to a debate concerning deeper fiscal integration in
Europe. The view is widespread that moving towards a 'fiscal union'would have stabilizing …

Background The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) was contracted
to conduct three evidence reviews on behalf of the DG for Employment, Social Affairs and …

The severe economic crisis affecting Greece is widely thought to be having a significant
social impact in terms of greater inequality and increased poverty. We provide an early …

The income tax systems of most countries entail a favourable treatment of homeownership,
compared to rental‐occupied housing. Such 'homeownership bias' and its consequences for …

Recent studies find in-work poverty to be a pan-European phenomenon. Yet in-work poverty
has come to the fore as a policy issue only recently in most continental European countries …

Recent success of the flat income tax in Eastern Europe raises questions about whether
there is scope for such a policy reform in Western Europe as well. We address this by …