This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Notten, G. Articles by Gassmann, F. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Size matters: targeting efficiency and poverty reduction effects of means-tested and universal child benefits in Russia

Maastricht University, The Netherlands, g.notten{at}governance.unimaas.nl

Franziska Gassmann

Maastricht University, The Netherlands

This article evaluates a policy change from universal to means-tested child allowances in terms of targeting efficiency and poverty reduction, taking the introduction of the latter form of benefits in Russia as a case-study. We use the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) from 2000 to 2004 to analyse the impact of the reforms and to simulate the effects of various means-tested and universal child benefit schemes. Since the reforms in 2000, more children have received benefits and there has been improved targeting of low income households. Nevertheless, both inclusion and exclusion errors are considerable and although the poverty reduction impact has improved marginally since the reforms, its effect on child poverty has been small. Our simulations show that universal schemes achieve additional poverty reductions with regard to all indicators because previously excluded children now also receive a benefit. However, size matters most: only by increasing benefit levels considerably can more substantial poverty reductions be achieved.

Key Words: child benefits • (chronic) poverty • means test • Russian Federation • targeting efficiency • universal

Journal of European Social Policy, Vol. 18, No. 3, 260-274 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0958928708091059


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?