Has income growth in Britain become more pro-poor?

Publication type

Conference Paper

Series

International Association for Research on Income and Wealth Conference

Authors

Publication date

August 25, 2008

Abstract:

Assessments of who is getting better off over time typically summarize
changes in the incomes of particular groups, e.g. the poor or the rich,
or for subgroups such as lone parent families and other families with
children. These calculations ignore the fact that these groups change
composition over time: the same individuals are not being compared.
To assess whether this year's poor (or rich) are gainers or losers,
one has to track the fortunes of individuals using longitudinal data.
Using data from the British Household Panel Survey, we compare the
patterns of individual income growth over the period 1992--1996 with
those of the period 1999--2003. We develop methods providing a longitudinal
perspective, and show that the pattern of income growth became more
pro-poor between periods, and in a different manner than is revealed by
conventional analysis. The results are consistent with the aims of the
New Labour government to reduce pensioner and child poverty.


Related Publications

#518244

News

Latest findings, new research

Publications search

Search all research by subject and author

Podcasts

Researchers discuss their findings and what they mean for society

Projects

Background and context, methods and data, aims and outputs

Events

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Survey methodology

Specialist research, practice and study

Taking the long view

ISER's annual report

Themes

Key research themes and areas of interest