Published January 2012 Price £9.99
The authors successfully capture the story of how anti-poverty policies have evolved over a century and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of government interventions. They also provide a useful international comparison and discuss the drivers for change and the lessons learned. However, this report is much more than a historical commentary and critical assessment of what has been achieved. The evaluation of anti-poverty policies presented in this report is also intended to inform the current debate on how we eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, which – as the authors show – have increased during recent periods of growth. The cornerstone of the report’s analysis and its challenge to today’s policy makers is the contention that redistribution (through welfare) is essential, but can only be part of the solution to combating poverty. The evidence from more than a century of reform is that lasting reductions in poverty and inequality also demand pre-distribution policies, notably in the labour market. The report is important and timely as governments seek to rebalance the relationship between the state and markets to achieve a fairer and more prosperous society.
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