Browse IFS
Publication types
Advanced search
Research project
Article
Can governments reduce poverty and improve work incentives?
Funded by: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date started: 01 October 2003
In this research we review and evaluate various techniques of quantifying the financial incentives to work, consider how these incentives have changed since 1979, estimate how much of these changes are due to changes in the tax and benefit system and analyse the trade-off between tackling poverty and improving work incentives by examining historical trends and simulating further changes.
Related publications
Publications by type

All available publications

04 October 2006
IFS Working Papers
Article
Financial work incentives in Britain: comparisons over time and between family types
This paper reviews various techniques for quantifying financial incentives to work, shows how financial work incentives have changed across the population since 1979, and estimates how much of these changes are due to changes in the tax and benefit system.
04 October 2006
IFS Press Releases
Article
Labour's tax and benefit reforms weaken average work incentives
Despite the Labour government's stated aim to 'make work pay', the extension of means testing has weakened incentives for many people to stay in work and increase their earnings, according to a new report by researchers at the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
04 October 2006
Presentations
Article
Work incentives and income redistribution
This presentation was given at the launch of 'The Poverty Trade-Off: Work incentives and income redistribution in Britain'.
04 October 2006
External publications
Article
The poverty trade-off: work incentives and income redistribution in Britain
This report aims to illuminate the trade-off between work incentives and redistribution.
04 October 2006
External publications
Article
The poverty trade-off: work incentives and income redistribution in Britain (JRF findings)
Two strategies that governments have to help people on low incomes - providing them with financial support directly, and encouraging them to earn more - generally conflict.
24 February 2006
IFS Briefing Notes
Article
The effect of the working families' tax credit on labour market participation
This Briefing Note compares five recent studies that have examined the labour market impact of the Working Families' Tax Credit and related reforms between 1999 and 2002.
28 July 2005
IFS Working Papers
Article
Measuring the marginal efficiency cost of redistribution in the UK
This paper estimates the marginal efficiency cost of redistribution (MECR) associated with a demogrant and an in-work benefit for the UK since 1979, taking account of extensive as well as intensive labour supply responses.
17 November 2004
IFS Press Releases
Article
Labour's tax credit changes encourage lone parents to work, but discourage many potential second earners
New research, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, examines the success of the Government's "Make Work Pay" agenda, which seeks to improve financial incentives to work, and to reduce poverty amongst working families, mainly through changes to tax credits.
17 November 2004
IFS Briefing Notes
Article
The impact of tax and benefit changes between April 2000 and April 2003 on parents' labour supply
This Briefing Note provides the first published estimates of the labour market impact of the new tax credits, and the tax and benefit reforms that precededthem, on families with children.
17 November 2004
External publications
Article
Has Labour made work pay?
A review of the Labour Government's success in improving the financial reward to work for low-income families.

Search

Title (or part of title)
Author surname (or part of surname)

Releated research
Financial resources
Inequality, poverty and well-being
Labour supply
Tax and benefit system
Related Events
The Poverty Trade-Off: Work incentives and income redistribution in Britain
Research Personnel
Stuart Adam
Mike Brewer
Andrew Shephard