Welcome to the Social Policy Digest Online. The Digest is designed as a key resource for all those working in UK social policy — policymakers, researchers, teachers and students, campaigners, journalists, and practitioners. It provides an easily accessible listing of new developments across the whole social policy field.<br/>The Digest is a companion to two journals — the Journal of Social Policy and Social Policy and Society — both of which are published on behalf of the Social Policy Association by Cambridge University Press. 2012-05-15T23:00:00Z

A briefing paper said that plans by the coalition government to withdraw child benefit from households with a higher-rate taxpayer were flawed and risked being an 'operational disaster'. It highlighted a range of potential problems with the plans, from possible breaches in confidentiality to the prospect of making half a million additional people fill in self-assessment forms. The plans also undermined the principle of individual taxation, since they involved clawing back from one person a benefit paid to another. Source : High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge (HICBC) , Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Links : Briefing | ICAEW press release | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Telegraph report

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A study examined the journeys of lone parents on jobseeker's allowance, focusing on support and training opportunities provided to facilitate learning. Source : Tina Haux et al ., A Longitudinal Qualitative Study of the Journeys of Single Parents on Job Seekers Allowance , Single Parent Action Network/University of the West of England Links : Report

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A study found that there was a significant negative impact of fathers' losing their jobs during the 1980s recession on both the family income and their children's exam results. The impact equated to their children obtaining half a GCSE grade less than those with fathers who remained in employment. These children looked very similar to the children with fathers who kept their jobs prior to the recession in terms of their educational development. There was also a small negative effect on their early employment experiences. Source : Paul Gregg, Lindsey Macmillan, and Bilal Nasim, The Impact of Fathers' Job Loss During the 1980s Recession on Their Child's Educational Attainment and Labour Market Outcomes , Working Paper 12/288, Centre for Market and Public Organisation (University of Bristol) Links : Paper | Bristol University press release | Telegraph report

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The coalition government responded to consultation on its Green Paper on special educational needs and disability in England. It set out the next steps that the government would take to implement the Green Paper reforms, including through legislation. It said that the existing system was 'outdated and not fit for purpose'. Too many children were being labelled as having special needs. The system of statements, setting out the extra help that had to be provided for children with special needs, would be replaced by a single assessment process: this would result in an integrated 'education, health and care plan'. It also said that parents should be given more control over spending the budgets available to help their children. Source : Support and Aspiration: A New Approach to Special Educational Needs and Disability Progress and Next Steps , Department for Education Links : Response | Hansard | DE press release | ASCL press release | ATL press release | CDC press release | CWR press release | EDCM press release | 4Children press release | FPLD press release | Labour Party press release | Mencap press release | NASUWT press release | NUT press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report Notes : Green Paper (March 2012)

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A report said that nearly one-third of Europeans would be aged 65 or over by 2060. Having more people living longer posed 'significant challenges' for European economies and welfare systems. Based on existing policies, age-related public expenditure (on pensions, health, and long-term care) was projected to rise by 4.1 percentage points of national income between 2010 and 2060 from 25 per cent to around 29 per cent of national income. Spending on pensions alone was projected to rise from 11.3 per cent to nearly 13 per cent of national income by 2060. Source : The 2012 Ageing Report: Economic and budgetary projections for the 27 EU Member States (2010-2060) , European Commission Links : Report | European Commission press release | European Union press release

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A study of developed (OECD) countries found that there was no clear link between performance pay for teachers and raising standards in schools. Source : Does Performance-Based Pay Improve Teaching? , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Links : Report | BBC report

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A report examined the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people in Europe. It said that no country could claim to provide full legal equality for LGBTI people though the United Kingdom had the best record. Source : Cailin Mackenzie, Evelyne Paradis, Silvan Agius, and Juris Lavrikovs, Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe 2011 , ILGA-Europe Links : Report | ILGA press release

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A paper examined the linkages between admission policies and integration policies that existed at the European Union level (the migration-integration policy nexus), and the relationship between EU and national-level policy-making in these areas. It focused on measures pertaining to the rights and status of legally-resident third-country nationals. Source : Alex Balch and Andrew Geddes, Connections Between Admission Policies and Integration Policies at EU-Level and Given Linkages with National Policy Making , Working Paper 1, Promoting Sustainable Policies for Integration (PROSINT)/European Commission Links : Paper

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A paper examined the overall policy frameworks for the integration of newcomers to 9 European countries (including the United Kingdom). In particular, it investigated the introduction of post- and pre-entry integration measures. Source : Bernhard Perchinig et al ., The National Policy Frames for the Integration of Newcomers: Comparative Report , Working Paper 2, Promoting Sustainable Policies for Integration (PROSINT)/European Commission Links : Paper | UK report

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A paper evaluated the impact of admission-related integration policies in Europe on the integration of newcomers; analyzed the different logics underlying integration policy-making; and investigated the main target groups of compulsory and voluntary integration measures. Source : Claudia Lechner and Anna Lutz et al ., Study on the Impacts of Admission Policies and Admission-Related Integration Policies , Working Paper 5, Promoting Sustainable Policies for Integration (PROSINT)/European Commission Links : Paper | UK report

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A report examined national and international evidence on bisexual inclusion. Bisexual people were often invisible in policy and practice despite evidence that they experienced discrimination in education and in the workplace and were more at risk of mental health problems than lesbian, gay, or heterosexual people. Bisexual people were subject to a specific form of discrimination 'biphobia' because they did not fit a problematic gay/straight model of sexuality. Source : Meg Barker, Christina Richards, Rebecca Jones, Helen Bowes-Catton, and Tracey Plowman (with Jen Yockney and Marcus Morgan), The Bisexuality Report: Bisexual inclusion in LGBT equality and diversity , Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance (Open University) Links : Report | Open University press release

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A study found that 9 out of 10 academies were selling pupils junk food such as crisps, chocolate, and cereal bars that was banned in maintained schools in order to protect children's health. Source : Daphne Kaklamanou, Jo Pearce, and Michael Nelson, Food and Academies: A qualitative study , School Food Trust Links : Report | Summary | SFT press release | NUT press release | Guardian report

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A think-tank report said that the coalition government's public health reforms could fail unless the new Health and Wellbeing Boards were given greater legislative powers. The boards needed to be able to influence everything from social care and planning to school immunizations and housing: but there was scepticism among local councils about whether the boards could survive on 'soft power' alone, combined with concerns about a potential lack of public engagement in the work of the new institutions. Source : Daria Kuznetsova, Healthy Places: Councils leading on public health , New Local Government Network Links : Report | NLGN press release

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An article said that a 'fat tax' would have to increase the price of unhealthy food and drinks by as much as 20 per cent in order to cut consumption by enough to reduce obesity and other diet-related diseases. Source : Oliver Mytton, Dushy Clarke, and Mike Rayner, 'Taxing unhealthy food and drinks to improve health', British Medical Journal, 15 May 2012 Links : Abstract | Guardian report

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A study found that modern houses were too small, with inadequate storage and living spaces. Source : Stephen Finlay, Isabella Pereira, Ella Fryer-Smith, Anne Charlton, and Rebecca Roberts-Hughes, The Way We Live Now: What people need and expect from their homes , Royal Institute of British Architects Links : Report | RIBA press release | Telegraph report

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Researchers examined likely future changes in housing markets in rural areas in England in the wider context of changing housing market pressures and government policies on affordable housing and housing benefit. They warned that cuts in housing benefit rules threatened to break up rural communities. Source : Anna Clarke and Sarah Monk, Rural Housing at a Time of Economic Change , Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research (University of Cambridge) Links : Report | Summary | Newcastle University press release | RSN Online report

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A report examined the provision of 'wraparound' childcare in primary schools in Northern Ireland. Source : Sarah Lowndes and Rachel Dennison, Wraparound Childcare in Primary Schools: Consulting primary schools on the provision of wraparound services , Employers For Childcare Links : Report | Summary

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A report by a committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly said that benefit-paying agencies did not have an accurate estimate of the extent of unclaimed benefit by people of pensionable age. Source : Report on the Uptake of Benefits by Pensioners , Sixth Report (Session 2011/2012), Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee, TSO Links : Report | NIA press release

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A collection of essays examined different aspects of intergenerational justice. Source : Clare Coatman and Guy Shrubsole (with Ben Little and Shiv Malik) (eds.), Regeneration , Lawrence Wishart Links : Text of book

2012-05-15T23:00:00Z 2012-05-15T23:00:00Z

The Court of Appeal ruled that the size criteria in the housing benefit regulations discriminated against disabled people, because they did not allow for an additional room to be paid for where a disabled person had a carer, or where two children could not share a room because of disability. Source : Burnip v Birmingham City Council and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions/Trengrove v Walsall Metropolitan Council and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions/Gorry v Wiltshire Council and Secretary of State for work and Pensions , Court of Appeal 15 May 2012 Links : Judgement | CPAG press release | EHRC press release | Inside Housing report

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A report described a new approach to calculating the amounts of money contributed to private pensions, presenting estimates for 2010. Source : Improved Methods for Calculating Private Pension Contributions , Office for National Statistics Links : Report

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A think-tank report said that low- to middle-income households were reliant on borrowing to fund much of their spending for more than a decade before the global financial crisis in 2008-09. Over the 10 years 1997-2007, spending grew faster than incomes across all households: but for the poorest groups this was much more pronounced. For the bottom 10 per cent, incomes grew by 17 per cent while spending grew by more than twice as much (43 per cent). Even middle-income households found themselves falling behind, with incomes growing by 33 per cent and spending growing by 46 per cent, resulting in a negative savings ratio for a full 10 years before the crash. The highest-income households also saw their incomes grow by less than their spending over the period, but still retained a positive although declining savings ratio. Source : Paolo Lucchino and Salvatore Morelli, Inequality, Debt and Growth , Resolution Foundation Links : Report | Resolution press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report

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A think-tank report said that including students in net migration statistics created a 'perverse incentive' for the government to drive down foreign student numbers even though this did relatively little to cut long-term immigration. Source : Matt Cavanagh and Alex Glennie, International Students and Net Migration in the UK , Institute for Public Policy Research Links : Report | IPPR press release | Guardian report | Times Higher Education report

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Researchers examined the situation of children without legal immigration status. They highlighted conflicting government policies governing the protection of children's rights and immigration, and the children's lack of access to public services such as healthcare and education. Source : Nando Sigona and Vanessa Hughes, No Way Out, No Way In: Irregular migrant children and families in the UK , Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (University of Oxford) Links : Report | Summary

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A report by a committee of MSPs gave its support in principle to a Bill proposed by the Scottish Government that would seek, as far as possible, to limit the likely widespread impact of the United Kingdom government's Welfare Reform Act on poor and vulnerable groups in Scotland. Source : Stage 1 Report on the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill , 1st Report 2012, SP Paper 125, Scottish Parliament Welfare Reform Committee Links : Report | Scottish Parliament press release | BBC report

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The coalition government published a report on the economic and social situation in the United Kingdom, highlighting the challenges involved in meeting the objectives of the European Union's open method of co-ordination for social protection and social inclusion. The report (based on the 2012 National Reform Programme) set out the responses to these challenges on the part of the UK and devolved governments. Source : National Social Report , Department for Work and Pensions Links : Report See also : Europe 2020: UK National Reform Programme 2012 , HM Treasury (April 2012)

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An article developed a new account of liberal justice 'free market fairness' in order to show how limited government and the material betterment of people in poverty could be reconciled. It called on the political left to rethink its attitude towards private economic liberty. Source : John Tomasi, 'Social justice, free market style', Public Policy Research, Volume 19 Issue 1 Links : Abstract

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A think-tank report said that society needed to improve its capacity to prevent harm – in order to improve people's quality of life, make better use of public money, reduce the need for costly state services, and help to safeguard the future. Examples of preventive action included: Cutting greenhouse gas emissions and the risks of climate change, safeguarding natural resources, and stopping pollution of air, land, and water. Regulating financial institutions to prevent speculation, investing in good jobs and renewable energy, taxing polluters, and discouraging carbon-intensive production. Source : Anna Coote, The Wisdom of Prevention: Long-term planning, upstream investment and early action to prevent harm , New Economics Foundation Links : Report | Summary

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The coalition government announced that a review of the public sector equality duty would be brought forward. It confirmed plans to abolish the duty on public bodies to promote socio-economic equality. It also announced (following consultation) that it would take steps to 'reform' the equality and human rights watchdog including scrapping 'vague, unnecessary and obsolete' functions, appointing a new chair, and introducing tighter performance and financial controls. Source : Written Ministerial Statement 15 May 2012, columns 28-29WS, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Hansard | Home Office press release | Fawcett Society press release | Mind press release | PCS press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report

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A study found that some migrants were working under 'threatening and inhumane' conditions for little or no pay in parts of the food industry. Source : Sam Scott, Gary Craig, and Alistair Geddes, Experiences of Forced Labour in the UK Food Industry , Joseph Rowntree Foundation Links : Report | Summary | JRF press release | Dundee University press release | TUC press release

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A report by a committee of MPs 'commended' the speed with which the Work Programme (the new welfare-to-work programme) had been set up. But it warned of risks associated with the payment-by-results approach: it said that no contractors should be paid until their performance was properly monitored, and warned against 'cherry picking'. Source : Department for Work and Pensions: The Introduction of the Work Programme , Eighty–fifth Report (Session 2012-13), HC 1814, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | CBI press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report

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An audit report said that the government had improved fraud controls on the Work Programme compared with previous schemes. However, it had missed a number of opportunities to detect potential problems at the contractor A4e, and it needed to tighten controls on its smaller programmes. The government announced that it was terminating its contract with A4e in the south-east region. Source : Preventing Fraud in Contracted Employment Programmes , HC 90 (Session 2012-13), National Audit Office, TSO | Written Ministerial Statement 15 May 2012, columns 32-34WS, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Report | NAO press release | Hansard | DWP press release | Labour Party press release | PCS press release | BBC report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Telegraph report

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A report examined whether positive behaviour change was most effectively achieved through central government action or at a local level (through the combined efforts of local agencies, the voluntary sector, and citizens). The exact relationship between government action, citizen behaviour, and effective public outcomes remained hazy, despite examples of good practice and robust evidence across government. There were real opportunities to use the 'nudge' approach at a local level: but without more experiments to close the gap in evidence, the government might have to settle for only moderate changes in citizen behaviour. Source : Peter John (with Liz Richardson), Nudging Citizens Towards Localism? , British Academy Links : Report | Summary | British Academy press release

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The education inspectorate in Wales said that very few schools planned effectively enough how to develop the communication, numeracy, and thinking skills of children aged 11-14 across the curriculum. Source : An Evaluation of the Impact of the Non-Statutory Skills Framework for 3 to 19-Year-Olds in Wales at Key Stage 3 , HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales Links : Report | HMCIETW press release | WLGA press release | BBC report

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An article examined why adult children and their parents lived together in European countries, and the role of individual characteristics, family structures, and cultural contexts. Country comparisons showed that welfare state arrangements also had a substantial effect. Co-residence appeared to be a response to economic insecurities at both individual and societal levels. Source : Bettina Isengard and Marc Szydlik, 'Living apart (or) together? Coresidence of elderly parents and their adult children in Europe', Research on Ageing , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-15T23:00:00Z 2012-05-13T23:00:00Z

The Scottish Government announced that the preferred minimum price for alcohol would be 50p per unit, once the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill became law. Source : Press release 14 May 2012, Scottish Government Links : Scottish Government press release | Addaction press release | RCP press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-05-13T23:00:00Z 2012-05-13T23:00:00Z

The equality and human rights watchdog published a formal assessment (the first of its kind) of the coalition government's 2010 Spending Review, examining the extent to which decision-making by ministers and civil servants had met legal obligations to consider the impact on equality. It found that in six cases (including removing child benefit from households with a higher-rate taxpayer) the Treasury had acted in accordance with the requirements under the equality duties. However, in three cases (including the introduction of a household benefits cap, and replacing education maintenance allowance with local discretionary funds), the watchdog said that it was unable to establish whether or not the decisions had been in full accord with the requirements. The watchdog called for: greater transparency in future reviews; the development of a common model of analysis to predict the likely equality effects of policy; and earlier use of the equality duties to ensure better targeting of funds and greater value for money. Source : Making Fair Financial Decisions: An assessment of HM Treasury's 2010 Spending Review conducted under Section 31 of the 2006 Equality Act , Equality and Human Rights Commission Links : Report | Summary | EHRC press release | Fawcett Society press release | REF press release | Guardian report | Public Finance report

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A paper said that long-term social care should be funded through taxation in a way that was intergenerationally fair, with wealthier older people paying more. Tax funding would be fairer than a cap on care costs, and would also encourage joint working between health and social care services to keep older people out of hospital and better supported at home. Sufficient funds to cover increasing care costs could be found from wealthier older people by means-testing universal benefits for older people or Introducing a care duty on estates above a certain value. Source : Stephen Burke, The Care Crunch: Decision time on reforming care funding , United for All Ages Links : Paper | UAA press release

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A new book examined why and how the Labour governments (1997-2010) introduced citizenship education as a compulsory subject in the national curriculum. Source : Ben Kisby, The Labour Party and Citizenship Education: Policy networks and the introduction of citizenship lessons in schools , Manchester University Press Links : Summary

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A new book examined the range of gendered harms to women involved in prostitution, and the consequences of the growth of the sex industry for gender relations. Although there was an increasing amount of research and academic output on prostitution, the focus was often on policy frameworks. Contemporary debates over harm were largely limited to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. Less attention was paid to questions of how the sex industry perpetuated notions of objectification and male entitlement with respect to women's bodies. Source : Maddy Coy (ed.), Prostitution, Harm and Gender Inequality: Theory, research and policy , Ashgate Publications (Publication date: June 2012) Links : Summary

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An article examined whether the development of qualifications frameworks yielded the anticipated benefits of the 'shift to learning outcomes' in Europe. Source : Sandra Bohlinger, 'Qualifications frameworks and learning outcomes: challenges for Europe's lifelong learning area', Journal of Education and Work , Online first publication Links : Abstract

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An article examined the views of parents and young people who had experienced domestic violence. Professionals who appeared ineffective in the face of domestic violence could reinforce children's and victims' own sense of powerlessness. Mothers wanted support with managing the effects of separation and assistance with contact arrangements. Interventions that enabled parents to engage with children's experiences of domestic violence appeared valuable. Rather than taking separation as the end-point of intervention, social work needed to take account of the dynamics of separation and contact in parents' relationships, and consider how they interacted with violence and abuse to affect children and young people. Source : Nicky Stanley, Pam Miller, and Helen Richardson Foster, 'Engaging with children's and parents' perspectives on domestic violence', Child Family Social Work , Volume 17 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

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A new book examined the policing of consensual sexual practices. It considered a range of areas, including public sex, pornography, and sex work and how sexual orientation structured police responses. It critically explored how policing was implicated in the social, moral, and political landscape of sex and contrary to the established rhetoric of politicians and criminal justice practitioners continued to intervene in the private lives of citizens. Source : Paul Johnson and Derek Dalton (eds.), Policing Sex , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-05-13T23:00:00Z 2012-05-13T23:00:00Z

A report said that more resources and targeted actions were needed to tackle poverty and social exclusion in the European Union. The role of mechanisms put in place to promote social inclusion had to be strengthened, such as the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, and the social open method of co-ordination. All structural funds should be used to promote social inclusion and combating poverty, in particular child poverty. The objective of economic growth should not prevail over the other EU priorities, and should not prevent structural funds from reaching those most in need. Source : EU Budget 2014-2020: Making Children Visible , Children's Rights Action Group Links : Report

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A new book said that the basis of the development of the European Union the free movement of capital, goods, services, and people was fundamentally at odds with the creation of an interventionist regime that the construction of a 'social Europe' would require. The European Union did not possess the budget or the economic tools to pursue such a strategy; and in political terms almost no EU institution backed it. Source : Philip Whyman, Mark Baimbridge, and Andrew Mullen, The Political Economy of the European Social Model , Routledge Links : Summary

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A report by a committee of MPs said that the government needed to develop a joined-up strategy to change the unhealthy and environmentally damaging food system. It called for stricter advertising limits to protect children from junk food marketing on all media including the internet. Food skills, such as cooking and gardening, should be part of the curriculum in all schools. New national planning policy guidance for local authorities should ensure that communities had access to healthy food and land to grow their own produce. Source : Sustainable Food , Eleventh Report (Session 2012-13), HC 879, House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | BBC report

2012-05-13T23:00:00Z 2012-05-13T23:00:00Z

A paper said that older people should expect to work longer and draw on their property wealth to help fund care costs. Older citizens had a responsibility to remain in the labour market, where possible, to enable skills retention and minimize the fiscal burdens on taxpayers: alongside this, older people should have a right to support from employers, and society more generally, to enable longer working lives. Older people should have a right to remain in their own home: but it was fair that older people drew on their property wealth to help fund care costs. Older people had a responsibility to remain active in their communities: many older people were eager to volunteer in later life, and opportunities to volunteer needed to be flexible, enjoyable, and oriented towards utilizing the skills that older people had developed during their working lives. Source : Retirement in Flux: Changing perceptions of retirement and later life , International Longevity Centre UK Links : Paper | ILC press release

2012-05-13T23:00:00Z 2012-05-13T23:00:00Z

The coalition government published an assessment of the impact of replacing disability living allowance with a new 'personal independence payment' from April 2013 onwards. It said that it expected to cut benefit spending by 2,240 million, by 'focusing support on disabled people with greatest needs'. By 2015-16, the caseload for personal independence payment was estimated at around 1.7 million compared with a previous forecast for disability living allowance of around 2.2 million. Source : Disability Living Allowance Reform: Impact Assessment , Department for Work and Pensions Links : Impact assessment | Equality impact assessment | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-05-13T23:00:00Z 2012-05-13T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the difference that women's movements and feminism had made to experiences and practices of citizenship in Europe; and assessed the state of citizenship in contemporary Europe from the perspective of women, particularly minoritized women. Source : Beatrice Halsaa, Sasha Roseneil, and Sevil Sumer (eds.), Remaking Citizenship in Multicultural Europe: Women's movements, gender and diversity , Palgrave Macmillan (Publication date: July 2012) Links : Summary

2012-05-13T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article provided a practitioner perspective on anti-social behaviour orders. Practitioners viewed the ASBO as an effective tool in managing and reducing anti-social behaviour in contrast to other research findings. Source : Stuart Kirby and Ann Edmondson, 'The effectiveness of the ASBO a practitioner perspective', Safer Communities, Volume 11 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article sought to quantify the characteristics of local geographical areas of England that experienced rioting in August 2011. Source : Stephen Simpkin and Ellie Sapsed, ' I predict a riot quantifying the characteristics of areas that led to rioting in England in August 2011 ', Safer Communities, Volume 11 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

A best practice review of the role of schools forums found that they were generally perceived to have a strong influence on funding decisions. Source : Gill Featherstone, Tami McCrone, David Sims, and Clare Southcott, A Best Practice Review of the Role of Schools Forums , National Foundation for Educational Research Links : Report | Summary

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

A report provided an overview of the supply of apprenticeship-type schemes in the European Union member states. It discussed the effectiveness of these schemes in raising employability and facilitating the labour market transitions of apprentices. Source : IKEI Research Consultancy, Apprenticeship Supply in the Member States of the European Union: Final Report , European Commission Links : Report

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An article examined coverage arrangements for long-term social care across developed (OECD) countries. The main challenge for financing care services would be finding the right balance between fair protection and financial sustainability: this would be essential to ensure that financing care systems was financially sustainable in the long run, without shifting too large a financial burden on to future generations. Source : Francesca Colombo and Jerome Mercier, Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the role of minimum wages, tax, and benefit policies in protecting workers against financial poverty covering 21 European countries with a national minimum wage, and three states in the United States of America. Net income packages at minimum wage level only reached or exceeded the European Union's at-risk-of poverty threshold in the case of single persons and in a limited number of countries. For lone parents and sole breadwinners with a partner and children to support, net income packages at minimum wage were below this threshold almost everywhere, usually by a wide margin. This was the case despite shifts over the previous decade towards tax relief and additional income support provisions for low-paid workers. There appeared to be limits to what minimum wage policies alone could achieve in the fight against in-work poverty. The route of raising minimum wages to eliminate poverty among workers solely reliant on it seemed to be inherently constrained, especially in countries where the distance between minimum and average wage levels was already comparatively small and where relative poverty thresholds were mostly a function of the dual-earner living standards. In order to fight in-work poverty new policy routes needed to be explored: 'one size fits all' policy solutions were unlikely to succeed. Source : Ive Marx, Sarah Marchal, and Brian Nolan, Mind the Gap: Net incomes of minimum wage workers in the EU and the US , Discussion Paper 6510, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn) Links : Paper

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined youth justice practice in relation to girls who were engaged in youth justice processes or 'at risk' of criminal involvement. Girls were drawn into the system for welfare rather than crime-related matters; and youth justice policy and practice seemed to negate girls' gender-specific needs. Youth justice policy and practice needed to be redeveloped in favour of incorporating gender-specific practices centred on children and young people. Source : Sean Creaney, 'Risk, prevention and early intervention: youth justice responses to girls', Safer Communities, Volume 11 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined approaches to developing and supporting lay people in public health roles. Professional support needed to be accompanied by a reorientation of public services to support lay engagement in programme delivery. Source : Jane South, Angela Meah, and Peter Branney, ' Think differently and be prepared to demonstrate trust : findings from public hearings, England, on supporting lay people in public health roles', Health Promotion International, Volume 27 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article said that subjective evidence of payment problems and material hardship could be used to validate measures of housing need. Using household panel survey evidence it was shown that traditional affordability ratios were still probably the best objective measure, with residual income ratios in a supporting role; and that relatively generous thresholds were better. Composites with subjective payment problems were well validated by independent evidence on material hardship, and were associated with higher incidence of moves and other housing needs. These problems were much more prevalent in private renting, with less variation between regions than household types. Source : Glen Bramley, 'Affordability, poverty and housing need: triangulating measures and standards', Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, Volume 27 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined recent policy developments in England and Northern Ireland relating to mental health and intellectual disability. The policies and legislation introduced to address issues such as accessing mental healthcare and service standards had still to make a significant impact on people's daily lives. Source : Eddie Chaplin and Laurence Taggart, 'England and Northern Ireland policy and law update relating to mental health and intellectual disability', Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 6 Issue 3 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined leadership development since the inception of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in 2001. The PSNI had progressed significantly: but a new leadership development strategy was vital if operational policing were to continue to enhance public confidence at a time of renewed terrorist threat. Source : Andrew McInnes and Tim Meaklim, 'Leading the Police Service of Northern Ireland ten years and beyond', International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, Volume 8 Number 1 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined the optimal design of low-income support, using a structural labour supply model. Using the tax schedule for lone parents in as the policy environment, the results pointed to a reformed non-linear tax schedule with tax credits only optimal for low earners. The results also suggested a welfare-improving role for tagging according to child age and for hours-contingent payments, although the case for the latter was mitigated when hours could not be monitored or recorded accurately by the tax authorities. Source : Richard Blundell and Andrew Shephard, 'Employment, hours of work and the optimal taxation of low-income families', Review of Economic Studies, Volume 79 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined alternative options for reforming the English long-term care funding arrangements by examining the rationale for and consequences of recent developments in Germany, Japan, and France. In particular, it considered the implications of the reform options adopted in the different countries examined for equity and efficiency in the use of long-term care resources, and for the sustainability of the long-term care system as a whole. Source : Jose-Luis Fernandez and Julien Forder, 'Reforming long-term care funding arrangements in England: international lessons', Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Volume 34 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined efficiency in the commissioning of publicly funded social services among 148 English local councils over the period 2002-2007, covering institutional and community care. There was a slight decrease in the average inefficiency score, moving from 1.080 in the first year to 1.076 in the last year. Cost-output elasticity of institutional care was greater than that of community care services. Greater savings were obtained when the market was open to independent providers. Source : Francesco D'Amico and Jose-Luis Fernandez, 'Measuring inefficiency in long-term care commissioning: evidence from English local authorities', Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Volume 34 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An adoption 'scorecard' was published (for the first time) showing the time taken by each local authority in England to process adoption cases. Source : Press release 11 May 2012 , Department for Education Links : Scorecard (spreadsheet) | DE press release | BAAF press release | Barnardos press release | BASW press release | Coram press release | Community Care report | Public Finance report

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-11T23:00:00Z

An article examined the effect of immigration on the wages of native workers. It was found that that immigrants 'downgraded' considerably upon arrival. Immigration depressed native wages below the 20th percentile of the wage distribution, but led to slight wage increases in the upper part of the wage distribution. This pattern mirrored the evidence on the location of immigrants in the wage distribution. Possible explanations for the overall slightly positive effect on native wages, besides standard immigration surplus arguments, could involve deviations of immigrant remuneration from contribution to production either because of initial mismatch or immigrant downgrading. Source : Christian Dustmann, Tommaso Frattini, and Ian Preston, 'The effect of immigration along the distribution of wages', Review of Economic Studies , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-11T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A study found that over one-half of all top-tier local authorities in England had not yet produced a child poverty strategy, as required under the Child Poverty Act 2010. Source : Child Poverty: Where Are We Now? , 4Children Links : Report | 4Children press release

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

The Crime and Courts Bill was published. The Bill was designed to establish a National Crime Agency to take the lead on organized crime, enhance border security, and fight cyber crime. Television cameras would be allowed into courtrooms 'in limited circumstances': a separate paper set out the plans in more detail. Source : Crime and Courts Bill [HL] , Ministry of Justice, TSO | Proposals to Allow the Broadcasting, Filming, and Recording of Selected Court Proceedings , Ministry of Justice Links : Bill | MOJ press release | Paper

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on the proposed abolition of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council. It said that it agreed that the independent nature of the Council and its ability to report publicly and in a 'fearless way' could not be replicated by government: but it did not accept that the improvements in the administrative justice system sought by the committee would be best achieved through the continued funding of this oversight function. Source : Government Response to the Public Administration Select Committee Report on the Future Oversight of the Administrative Justice System , Cm 8354, Ministry of Justice, TSO Links : Response Notes : MPs report (March 2012)

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs said that the system for checking school spending in England was not robust enough. It was not clear how responsibility for ensuring value for money was divided up, particularly in the light of greater fragmentation and diversity in the schools system. Source : Accountability and Oversight of Education and Children's Services , Eighty-Second Report (Session 2012-13), HC 1957, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | BBC report

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

The chief inspector of schools in England reportedly criticized teachers who complained that their jobs were 'too stressful' and made excuses for poor performance. He suggested that head teachers, in particular, needed reminding what stress really was. 'We need heads who know what a privileged position they were in now and who could use their new-found independence well people who roll up their sleeves and get on with improving their schools, even in the most difficult circumstances. What we do not need are leaders in our schools whose first recourse is to blame someone else whether it's Ofsted, the local education authority, the government or a whole host of other people.' Source : BBC report, 10 May 2012 Links : BBC report | NUT press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A new book examined changes in the external relationship between higher education, government, and society in Europe. It charted how autonomy had mutated from being of integral value in higher education to becoming an instrument of policy. Source : Guy Neave, The Evaluative State, Institutional Autonomy and Re-Engineering Higher Education in Western Europe: The prince and his pleasure , Palgrave Macmillan Links : Summary

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article said that service user involvement was essential in the development and evaluation of the forthcoming new mental health strategy for Europe. Source : Felicity Callard and Diana Rose, 'The mental health strategy for Europe: why service user leadership in research is indispensable', Journal of Mental Health, Volume 21 Number 3 Links : Abstract

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A report examined how gender attributes and attitudes affected young men's and women's alcohol use, and whether different health promotion interventions were required for young men and women. Source : Richard de Visser, Jonathan Smith, Charles Abraham, and Zoe Wheeler, Gender, Alcohol, and Interventions , Alcohol Research UK Links : Report

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article examined whether lender-imposed borrowing restrictions contributed to the decline in young adult home-ownership rates in Britain in the 1990s especially since house prices rose rapidly in the second half of the decade. It was found that borrowing restrictions had delayed young adult transitions into home-ownership. Source : Mark Andrew, 'The changing route to owner-occupation: the impact of borrowing constraints on young adult homeownership transitions in Britain in the 1990s', Urban Studies , Volume 49 Number 8 Links : Abstract

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An audit report said that each new job created by the Regional Growth Fund (designed to help businesses create private sector jobs in parts of the country with high levels of public sector employment) could cost taxpayers as much as 200,000. A significant proportion of the first 1.4 billion from the fund had been allocated to projects that offered relatively few jobs for the money invested. Source : The Regional Growth Fund , HC 17 (Session 2012-13), National Audit Office, TSO Links : Report | NAO press release | DBIS press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

Researchers examined how the application process for the new personal independence payment (PIP) could be designed to meet the needs of both existing disability living allowance (DLA) claimants and potential PIP claimants. Source : Lorna Adams, Katie Oldfield, Angus Tindle, Camilla Huckle, Charlie Taylor, John Newton, and Becky Duncan, Personal Independence Payment User-Centred Design: Strand 1 report , Research Report 794, Department for Work and Pensions Links : Report | Summary Notes : The new personal independence payment will replace disability living allowance from 2013 for people aged 16-64.

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A report suggested ways in which the credit union sector could expand and modernize, based on a feasibility study. Credit unions needed to demonstrate a commitment to change, work more closely together, and make greater use of technology. This would provide a strong foundation for the sector to provide new services such as 'jam jar' accounts and online banking as well as improve loans decisions. It would also create the potential for a link with the Post Office. The report also raised the possibility of increasing the amount of interest credit unions could charge on loans in order to make them more financially secure. Source : Colin Purtill, John Cray, and Cath Mitchell, DWP Credit Union Expansion Project: Feasibility Study Report , Department for Work and Pensions Links : Report | Hansard | Barnardos press release | Consumer Focus press release | Transact press release | Guardian report

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article examined the changing distribution of minority-ethnic secondary school pupils in England over the period 1999-2009. Although there had been big increases in the percentage of ethnic minorities in those local authorities with existing concentrations, with ethnic minorities comprising over 50 per cent of pupils in 24 urban authorities in 2009, the dominant trend had been one of an increase in the percentage of minority-ethnic pupils across the board combined with the increasing diffusion of ethnic minorities across all local authorities, rather than increasing concentration in a small number of authorities. Source : Chris Hamnett, 'Concentration or diffusion? The changing geography of ethnic minority pupils in English secondary schools, 1999-2009', Urban Studies , Volume 49 Number 8 Links : Abstract

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

The annual 'Growing Up in Scotland' reports looked at life as a child in Scotland, focusing on three areas: early experiences at primary school, weight and physical activity, and the involvement of grandparents. Source : Lynn Jamieson, Pamela Warner, and Paul Bradshaw, Growing Up in Scotland: The involvement of grandparents in children's lives , Scottish Government | Alison Parkes, Helen Sweeting, and Daniel Wight, Growing Up in Scotland: Overweight, obesity and activity , Scottish Government | Paul Bradshaw, Julia Hall, Tessa Hill, Judith Mabelis, and Dan Philo, Growing Up in Scotland: Early experiences of primary school – parental involvement in school activities , Scottish Government Links : Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | Scottish Government press release

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article examined the distribution of multimorbidity, and of comorbidity of physical and mental health disorders, in relation to age and socio-economic deprivation in Scotland. Onset of multimorbidity occurred 10-15 years earlier in people living in the most deprived areas compared with the most affluent, with socio-economic deprivation particularly associated with multimorbidity that included mental health disorders. These findings challenged the single-disease framework by which most healthcare, medical research, and medical education was configured. A complementary strategy was needed, supporting generalist clinicians to provide personalized, comprehensive continuity of care, especially in socio-economically deprived areas. Source : Karen Barnett, Stewart Mercer, Michael Norbury, Graham Watt, Sally Wyke, and Bruce Guthrie, 'Epidemiology of multimorbidity and implications for health care, research, and medical education: a cross-sectional study', The Lancet 10 May 2012 Links : Abstract | Dundee University press release | BBC report

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An audit report in Scotland said that local authorities had been cutting jobs and services without fully understanding the costs of their actions. It urged authorities to make much more use of cost information analysis to ensure that both existing and planned activities fulfilled the statutory duty to provide best value for public money. Source : Using Cost Information to Improve Performance: Are you getting it right? , Audit Scotland Links : Report | Audit Scotland press release | Public Finance report

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article examined data from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) in order to understand cultural activity within Scotland. There were general difficulties measuring 'culture': but overall the SHS provided adequate national data on cultural participation and attendance. However, the SHS could not provide in-depth local level information, and provided limited data on non-participants. Overall, the SHS was a useful policy tool: but more could be done to utilize the data that it could provide on the Scottish cultural sector. Source : Vikki McCall and Christopher Playford, 'Culture and the Scottish Household Survey', Cultural Trends , Volume 21 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

The Secretary of State for Education said that he rejected the argument that pupil achievement was overwhelmingly dictated by socio-economic factors, and that schools were powerless to help children to succeed if they had been born into poverty, disability, or disadvantage. There were a growing number of schools proving that, with 'the right teaching and the right values', children from deprived backgrounds could outperform people's expectations of them. He said that he found it 'remarkable' how many of the positions of wealth, influence, celebrity, and power in society were held by individuals who had been privately educated. Source : Speech by Michael Gove MP (Secretary of State for Education), 10 May 2012 Links : Speech | NASUWT press release | NUT press release | BBC report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A paper said that the broad policy concepts and detailed practice of personalization were rooted in, and informed by, human rights: both with regard to the general approach that human rights implied, and the underpinning legal framework they provided. Source : Kavita Chetty, John Dalrymple, and Henry Simmons, Personalisation and Human Rights , Centre for Welfare Reform Links : Paper

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A paper examined whether increasing gender diversity in the workplace helped to explain the decline of unions. An inverse relationship was found between workplace union density and gender diversity. This was stronger for male union members and those in the private sector: there was a positive link between workplace union density and gender diversity in workplaces with a female majority. Source : Getinet Astatike Haile, Union Decline in Britain: Is Chauvinism Also to Blame? , Discussion Paper 6536, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn) Links : Paper

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

A report said that proposals by the coalition government to limit income tax relief on charitable donations from April 2013 would lead to a fall in annual donations of up to 500 million. Source : The Potential Impact of a Cap on Charity Tax Relief , Oxford Economics Links : Summary | CAF press release

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article identified 'defensive instrumentalism' as a main feature of New Labour's cultural policies (1997-2010). Instrumental arguments to defend the arts were not new: but previously they had been built into a more constructive and creative theory of the arts, and of their effects on individual and societies. Source : Eleonora Belfiore, '“Defensive instrumentalism” and the legacy of New Labour's cultural policies', Cultural Trends , Volume 21 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article examined positive and negative spillover between work and home, and its interrelation with life satisfaction, among knowledge workers. Positive spillover from home was interrelated with higher life satisfaction, whereas negative spillover from work was related to lower life satisfaction. Family role importance and career role importance were associated with higher life satisfaction. For respondents with higher family role importance, there was a stronger interrelation between negative spillover from home and lower life satisfaction. Source : Hans-Joachim Wolfram and Lynda Gratton, 'Spillover between work and home, role importance and life satisfaction', British Journal of Management , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-10T23:00:00Z

An article examined the growth of social enterprises in the social housing sector in Europe. Recent changes in the provision, funding, and management of social housing had led to the emergence of new types of providers. Although some of them could be portrayed using traditional 'state', 'market' or 'civil society' labels, many corresponded to hybrid organizational forms, encompassing characteristics of all three in varying combinations. Nonetheless, evidence suggested that there was a common thread linking these organizations together, namely their core missions and values, which could be classified using the term 'social enterprise'. Source : Darinka Czischke, Vincent Gruis, and David Mullins, 'Conceptualising social enterprise in housing organisations', Housing Studies , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-10T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The Queen's Speech set out the coalition government's legislative programme for 2012-13. It included plans for a Children and Families Bill. There would be more flexible leave arrangements for parents, 'father-friendly' access arrangements following relationship breakdowns, faster adoption processes, and better help for pupils with special educational needs. The children's rights watchdog would be made more independent from ministers, and given powers to carry out assessments of the impact of government policy on children. Source : Queen's Speech, 9 May 2012, columns 3-5, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Hansard | Cabinet Office briefing | DE press release | Barnardos press release | CDC press release | Childrens Commissioner press release | Childrens Society press release | EDCM press release | Family Lives press release | Fawcett Society press release | 4Children press release | Nasen press release | NFM press release | Scope press release | BBC report | Guardian report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The coalition government set out new measures designed to protect children from the 'creeping tide of commercialization and sexualization' in society. The measures included: Working with the music industry, online retailers, and video services, to have clear warnings on explicit videos where they were shown online. Source : Press release 9 May 2012, Department for Education Links : DE press release | EVAW press release | BBC report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The Queen's Speech set out the coalition government's legislative programme for 2012-13. It included plans for: A Justice and Security Bill. Oversight of the intelligence services would be strengthened, and courts would be allowed to consider sensitive information with national security implications through the limited use of closed proceedings. A Draft Communications Data Bill. The police and intelligence agencies would be given powers to collect data on communications, such as texts and emails. Source : Queen's Speech, 9 May 2012, columns 3-5, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Hansard | Cabinet Office briefing | Amnesty press release | INQUEST press release | Liberty press release | BBC report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Guardian report (3) | Telegraph report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article examined the use of restorative justice in cases of sexual violence. It considered the results of an exploratory study of a restorative justice conference involving an adult survivor of child rape and other sexual abuse. The results, although necessarily tentative, provided good ground to consider afresh the possibilities of restorative justice in cases of sexual violence. For those victim-survivors who wished to pursue this option, restorative justice might offer the potential to secure some measure of justice. Source : Clare McGlynn, Nicole Westmarland, and Nikki Godden, ' I just wanted him to hear me : sexual violence and the possibilities of restorative justice', Journal of Law and Society, Volume 39 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the idea that, apart from the general pains of imprisonment, certain characteristics made some prisoners more likely to suffer from 'added pains' extra difficulties, deprivation, and frustrations. The ageing prison population was a key example of a group who experienced added pains of imprisonment. Their weaker appearance, old-fashioned views, and less able bodies were all factors that resulted in them experiencing extra problems within prison. Source : Natalie Mann, Doing Harder Time? The experiences of an ageing male prison population in England and Wales , Ashgate Publications Links : Summary

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

Local councils in England criticized the coalition government over 'intolerable' delays in providing the most dilapidated schools with renovation funds. They said that none of the 2 billion earmarked for the Priority Schools Building Programme had yet been paid out, and that councils were having to use their own funds to pay for emergency repairs. Source : Press release 9 May 2012, Local Government Association Links : LGA press release | NASUWT press release | Public Finance report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the impacts of liberalization and privatization of public services in Europe on employment, labour relations, and working conditions. It looked at the ways in which liberalization had contributed to increasing private and foreign ownership of public services, the pressure on wages caused by decentralization of labour relations, and the way in which decreasing employment numbers and increasing workloads had improved productivity partly at the cost of service quality. Source : Christoph Hermann and Jorg Flecker (eds.), Privatization of Public Services: Impacts for Employment, Working Conditions, and Service Quality in Europe , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A new book examined recent theoretical and methodological debates, shifts in law and policy, and social and cultural changes around sexuality. It identified gaps between theory, research methods and practice, and lived experiences across time and place. It considered recent interdisciplinary work, setting out new ways of conceptualizing and researching sexuality. It explored persistently marginalized, re-traditionalized, and normative sexual practices, subjectivities, and identities. Source : Sally Hines and Yvette Taylor (eds.), Sexualities: Past Reflections, Future Directions , Palgrave Macmillan Links : Summary

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A taskgroup report proposed a 'fundamental transformation' in the way that criminal justice services were designed, commissioned, and delivered for girls and women at risk of offending, underpinned by a gender-responsive approach. Source : RR3 Task and Finish Group, Breaking the Cycle of Women's Offending: A System Re-Design , Clinks Links : Report | Platform51 press release

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The coalition government announced that it would not publish an internal risk assessment of its plans to reform the National Health Service in England contrary to a ruling by an information tribunal. Source : Press release 8 May 2012, Department of Health Links : DH press release | BBC report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article examined whether adverse relations between social class, health, and economic activity, observed between 1973 and 1993 were still apparent between 1994 and 2009 despite improvements in the general economic climate and overall population health. Between 1973 and 2009, the relation between good health and securing and sustaining employment had strengthened for both men and women. For men, this had been due to employment rates decreasing and economic inactivity rates increasing among men with poor health. For women, this had largely been due to a general trend of increased employment and reduced economic inactivity occurring among healthier women but not in women of poorer health. Some evidence suggested that, since 2005, the relation between health, employment, and economic inactivity for women in the top two occupational groups had became more like that for men, with poor health becoming associated with reducing employment rates. Source : Jonathan William Minton, Kate Pickett, and Danny Dorling, 'Health, employment, and economic change, 1973-2009: repeated cross sectional study', British Medical Journal, 8 May 2012 Links : Article

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article examined the interaction between mandatory possession proceedings brought by housing associations and national as well as human rights law. Source : Dave Cowan, Caroline Hunter, and Hal Pawson, 'Jurisdiction and scale: rent arrears, social housing, and human rights', Journal of Law and Society, Volume 39 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A new book drew on the experiences of 25 people who cut, burned, or otherwise injured themselves to examine the phenomenon of self-injury. It used an original theoretical concept the 'trajectory' of suffering to explain patterns of self-injury. Source : Theresa McShane, Blades, Blood and Bandages: The experiences of people who self-injure , Palgrave Macmillan Links : Summary

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The Queen's Speech set out the coalition government's legislative programme for 2012-13. It included plans for: A Public Service Pensions Bill. Public sector pensions would be moved to a career-average basis, instead of final salary. Source : Queen's Speech, 9 May 2012, columns 3-5, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Hansard | Cabinet Office briefing | PCS press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A report identified five 'rarely acknowledged' areas for urgent public sector reform. It suggested that the government could improve its financial and business management to: Save up to 10.2 billion per year by improving cash management in government. This included reducing levels of aged and written-off debt and improving working capital management. Target a public sector productivity growth rate of at least 0.3 per cent in 2012-13 by improving flexibility and accelerating reform of the workforce and capital spending. The government needed to press ahead with reducing the public sector headcount and transferring workers to mutuals: but also to ensure that this was sustainable, with improvements to skills and capability. Increase the proportion of locally raised council spending year on year, and improve financial management skills at the local level to support the localization of services. Source : The State of the State 2012 , Reform/Deloitte LLP Links : Report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The Queen's Speech set out the coalition government's legislative programme for 2012-13. It included plans for: A Draft Care and Support Bill. A Crime and Courts Bill, a Justice and Security Bill, and a Draft Communications Data Bill. An Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. Source : Queen's Speech, 9 May 2012, columns 3-5, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Hansard | Cabinet Office briefing | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Guardian report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A new book brought together a range of thematically organized case-studies that addressed the challenges of studying trends and processes in social stratification. Source : Paul Lambert, Roxanne Connelly, Robert Blackburn, and Vernon Gayle (eds.), Social Stratification: Trends and processes , Ashgate Publications Links : Summary

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The Queen's Speech set out the coalition government's legislative programme for 2012-13. It included plans for a Draft Care and Support Bill. The draft Bill would set out plans to modernize adult care in England and make access to support clearer and more equal. This would include giving people greater choice, and making local councils adapt their services to people's needs and experiences. Source : Queen's Speech, 9 May 2012, columns 3-5, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Hansard | Cabinet Office briefing | DH press release | ADASS press release | Alzheimers Society press release | Carers UK press release | Labour Party press release | LGA press release | Leonard Cheshire press release | Mencap press release | NLGN press release | NPC press release | PRTC press release | Scope press release | UKHCA press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A study examined the existing state of knowledge in relation to the delivery of social care in England by third sector organizations. The findings were set out in relation to the themes of: approaches to research in third sector and social care; the distinctiveness of the third sector in delivering social care; relationships with commissioners of social care; and the role of volunteers. Source : Helen Dickinson, Kerry Allen, Pete Alcock, Rob Macmillan, and Jon Glasby, The Role of the Third Sector in Delivering Social Care , School for Social Care Research, National Institute for Health Research Links : Report | Summary

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A report said that existing drug treatment provision prevented 4.9 million crimes in England per year with an estimated saving to society of 960 million in costs to the public, business, the criminal justice system, and the National Health Service. Source : Estimating the Crime Reduction Benefits of Drug Treatment and Recovery , National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse Links : Report | NTA press release

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that paying a 'living wage' was affordable for big companies in the banking, construction, computing, and food production sectors. The average increase in the wage bill for listed companies in these sectors would be about 1 per cent or less. The potential benefits to companies included productivity increases, lower staff turnover, reduced absenteeism, and enhanced reputation. It said that the living wage was 8.30 an hour in London and 7.20 outside London, and that more than 6 million people earned less than those levels around 1 in 4 workers. Source : Matthew Pennycook, What Price a Living Wage? Understanding the impact of a living wage on firm-level wage bills , Resolution Foundation/Institute for Public Policy Research Links : Report | Resolution Foundation press release

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

The Queen's Speech set out the coalition government's legislative programme for 2012-13. It included plans for an Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. The employment tribunal system would be reformed by providing more options for the early resolution of disputes through the statutory arbitration and conciliation service. Company shareholders would be allowed a binding vote on the remuneration of directors. Source : Queen's Speech, 9 May 2012, columns 3-5, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Hansard | Cabinet Office briefing | CBI press release | Fawcett Society press release | BBC report

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

A study (in three parts) examined the optimal number, size, and distribution of hospital services in Wales. It said that there was a strong case for re-configuring some hospital services. This had a positive aspect (patient outcomes could be improved) and a negative aspect (some services would collapse because of shortages of key staff) if changes were not made proactively. Although these problems had been developing over time, the need for change had become urgent in some key specialties, as levels of medical staffing became acute. Source : Katie Norton, Marcus Longley, and Michael Ponton (with Amy Simpson and Susan Kimani), The Best Configuration of Hospital Services for Wales: A review of the evidence Quality and Safety , Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care (University of Glamorgan) | Michael Ponton, Marcus Longley, and Katie Norton (with Amy Simpson and Susan Kimani), The Best Configuration of Hospital Services for Wales: A review of the evidence The Workforce , Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care | Katie Norton, Marcus Longley, and Michael Ponton (with Amy Simpson and Susan Kimani), The Best Configuration of Hospital Services for Wales: A review of the evidence Access , Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care Links : Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | Summary | WLGA press release

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article drew on interviews with eight headteachers of less advantaged English primary schools to explore how they understood and articulated the contexts in which their schools operated, and how this knowledge was translated into strategies for organizing curriculum, pedagogy, and other school processes. The headteachers observed context through the lens of the behaviour of parents and children in relation to school, contrasting it with an assumed middle-class normality. More critical perspectives on families' social and economic position or on the contribution of school practice to educational exclusion were largely absent. School responses were many and varied: but, given the constraints of budgets and other pressures, were unlikely to substantially transform the educational experiences and outcomes of disadvantaged students. There was a continuing need for more contextualized funding mechanisms and policies to improve schools in disadvantaged areas; and also, in the light of devolution to schools, a need to develop mechanisms of support for headteachers to help them to develop critical understandings of context. Source : Ruth Lupton and Martin Thrupp, 'Headteachers' readings of and responses to disadvantaged contexts: evidence from English primary schools', British Educational Research Journal , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article examined the implications of the coalition government's policy on university tuition fees for future economic prosperity, by modelling the relationship between higher education enrolments and economic growth in advanced industrial countries. The results showed that higher education was an important driver of economic growth, although there was no evidence to support the idea that special treatment for the 'STEM' (scientific and technical) subjects stimulated growth. If the policy did deter students from enrolling in the future, the long-term costs were likely to be significantly greater than any short-term gains to the Exchequer. Source : Paul Whiteley, 'Economic performance and higher education: the lessons for Britain', British Journal of Politics and International Relations , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article said that despite a proliferation of new policies directed at reforming the education system, the claims to educational improvement made by policy-makers had been contested. Concerns about the unpredicted and damaging long-term effects of these policies could be linked to the limitations of systems thinking that underpinned much of this education reform. A significant flaw of systems thinking was the level of simplification at which policy-makers operated on abstract categories such as standards, as if they were reality. Based on case study research conducted in two primary schools, the article suggested that the systemic approach adopted by policy-makers might be contributing to an erosion of educational quality and placing potentially damaging expectations on children. Source : Agnieszka Bates, 'Transcending systems thinking in education reform: implications for policy-makers and school leaders', Journal of Education Policy , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article examined the connexions between debates about the transformation of work in a service-dominated economy and those about classed and gendered identities. It that they might usefully be connected in analyses of disadvantage and exclusion among working-class young people. Youth involvement in protest and unrest in English cities, as well as rising rates of unemployment, raised questions about the connexions between labour market exclusion and young men's and women's construction and performance of acceptable versions of gendered identities. Performative identities were crucial in gaining employment, especially in the forms of low-waged interactive employment open to young people with few skills or little educational capital. Source : Linda McDowell, 'Post-crisis, post-Ford and post-gender? Youth identities in an era of austerity', Journal of Youth Studies , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-09T23:00:00Z

An article sought to identify explanations for the higher mortality in Scotland relative to other European countries, and to synthesize those best supported by evidence into an overall explanatory framework. The reasons for the high Scottish mortality between 1950 and 1980 were unclear: but it might be linked to particular industrial, employment, housing, and cultural patterns. From 1980 onwards, the higher mortality was most likely to be accounted for by a synthesis that began from the changed political context of the 1980s, and the consequent hopelessness and community disruption experienced. This might have relevance to faltering health improvement in other countries. Source : Gerry McCartney, Chik Collins, David Walsh, and David Batty, 'Why the Scots die younger: synthesizing the evidence', Public Health , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-09T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A report said that only a tiny minority (4 per cent) of employers had had difficulties complying with the right to request flexible working during the 10 years after its introduction. 7 out of 10 employers reported that flexible working supported employee retention, motivation, and engagement. Almost two-thirds of employers believed that flexible working supported their recruitment activities, and one-half believed that it had a positive impact on reducing absence as well as on boosting productivity. Source : Flexible Working Provision and Uptake , Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Links : Report | CIPD press release

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

An article examined a moral basis for planning theory, and principles of justice that might be relevant to the regulation of development. Many of the inefficiencies, inequities, and public concerns relating to planning centred on a a perception that the system was unfair and unjust, and that practice needed to be anchored on redistribution and equality. Although there were serious concerns over existing policy-making practices, the principles of justice offered a foundation for a practical critique that could help overcome problems of mistrust. Source : Stephen McKay, Michael Murray, and Sean Macintyre, 'Justice as fairness in planning policy-making', International Planning Studies, Volume 17 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A report compared the performance of nine public services in 28 developed countries over the period 1995-2009. Four sectors were studied in some detail (education, healthcare, social safety, and housing), with a more limited look at five others (social security, environment, economic affairs and infrastructure, culture and participation, and public administration). Source : Jedid-Jah Jonker (ed.), Countries Compared on Public Performance: A study of public sector performance in 28 countries , Netherlands Institute for Social Research Links : Report | Summary

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

An article examined the influence of both informal and formal social capital, at both individual and national level, on health in Europe. Individual formal and informal social capital was positively related to health in almost all countries: but the strength of these associations varies markedly across societies. The health of those who lacked informal social networks as individuals was better in countries with high levels of informal and formal social capital. On the other hand, individuals lacking formal social networks were not compensated by high levels of formal and informal social capital at the national level. Including informal social capital was important to obtain a comprehensive view on the role of contextual social capital as a compensatory source for individuals lacking social networks. Source : Tim Huijts and Gerbert Kraaykamp, 'Formal and informal social capital and self-rated health in Europe: a new test of accumulation and compensation mechanisms using a multi-level perspective', Acta Sociologica , Volume 55 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

An article examined the association between occupational social class and parental transfer behaviour in European countries. Substantial class differences in financial transfers were found. Existing theories on intergenerational transfers were largely unable to account for this finding. Even after income and wealth were controlled for, service-class parents transferred more resources to their adult children than did working-class parents. Source : Marco Albertini and Jonas Radl, Abstract

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A new book examined how the principle of universalism in social policy could be understood, and how it had been put into practice in various national contexts. Universalism was contrasted with the idea of diversity, which had gained strength in highly developed welfare states as a result of the growing affluent middle classes and of multiculturalism. The contributors highlighted the multiple nature of universalism: universalism was defined and implemented differently in British and Scandinavian social policy, and service universalism was different from universalism in pensions. Yet, universalism remained an essential principle for planning and implementing sustainable and legitimate policies in times characterized by complex interdependences and contradictory political aims. Source : Anneli Anttonen, Liisa Haikio, and Kolbeinn Stefansson (eds.), Welfare State, Universalism and Diversity , Edward Elgar Publishing Links : Summary

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A report presented estimates of healthcare expenditure in the United Kingdom for the period 1997 to 2010. Expenditure (in current prices) totalled 140.8 billion in 2010, 3.1 per cent higher than in 2009. This was considerably lower than the growth rate in 2009 of 8.8 per cent. Source : Adam Jurd, Expenditure on Healthcare in the UK 1997-2010 , Office for National Statistics Links : Report

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A report examined the capacity and capability of general practice, with a focus on family doctors and general practice nurses. Rising life expectancy, accompanied by increasingly complex long-term health conditions, a stretched primary care workforce, and unprecedented financial and healthcare reform were among the greatest challenges facing primary care. The report highlighted the need for general practice to work differently to cope effectively with the increasing demands it faced: this would be especially pertinent as family doctors took on the role of commissioners of local healthcare services. Source : Primary Care: Today and Tomorrow Improving general practice by working differently , Deloitte Centre for Health Solutions Links : Report | Deloitte press release

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A report highlighted the growing problem of 'digital exclusion'. It provided new evidence that government efforts to move services and transactions online were particularly disadvantaging older people, those with disabilities, and self-employed people. The most common determinant of digital exclusion was age: but other significant factors often combined with low income -included disability, learning difficulties, ethnic origin, location, culture, and language. People who were digitally excluded were likely to be disproportionately heavy users of government services. Source : Digital Exclusion , Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (Chartered Institute of Taxation) Links : Report | LITRG press release

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A study examined the potential impact of future changes in employment structures and pay patterns on income inequality and poverty. Key findings: Absolute poverty was likely to be affected very little by those changes. A very precise and targeted approach to policy, focusing on households in poverty, would be required to mitigate increases in poverty and inequality. Source : Mike Brewer, Andy Dickerson, Lynn Gambin, Anne Green, Robert Joyce, and Rob Wilson, Poverty and Inequality in 2020: Impact of changes in the structure of employment , Joseph Rowntree Foundation Links : Report | Summary | JRF press release

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

A briefing paper examined the factors that promoted, and hindered, joint working between health and social care services. There was a significant overlap between positive and negative factors, with many of the organizational factors identified in research as promoting joint working also being identified as hindering collaboration when insufficient attention was paid to their importance. Securing the understanding and commitment of staff to the aims and desired outcomes of new partnerships was crucial to the success of joint working, particularly among health professionals. Source : Ailsa Cameron, Rachel Lart, Lisa Bostock, and Caroline Coomber, Factors that Promote and Hinder Joint and Integrated Working Between Health and Social Care Services , Research Briefing 41, Social Care Institute for Excellence Links : Paper

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-08T23:00:00Z

An article provided a comparative analysis of patterns of deprivation in Europe. It identified six relatively distinct dimensions of deprivation. Systematic variation was found in the importance of within- and between-country variation for a range of deprivation dimensions. The basic deprivation dimension was the sole dimension to display a graduated pattern of variation across countries. It also revealed the highest correlations with national and household income, the remaining deprivation dimensions, and economic stress. It came closest to capturing an underlying dimension of generalized deprivation that could provide the basis for a comparative European analysis of exclusion from customary standards of living. A multilevel analysis revealed that a range of household characteristics and household reference person socio-economic factors were related to basic deprivation and controlling for contextual differences in such factors made it possible to account for substantial proportions of both within- and between-country variance. The addition of macro-economic factors relating to average levels of disposable income and income inequality contributed relatively little further in the way of explanatory power. Further analysis revealed the existence of a set of significant interactions between micro socio-economic attributes and country-level gross national disposable income per capita. The analysis supported the suggestion that an emphasis on the primary role of income inequality to the neglect of differences in absolute levels of income might be misleading in important respects. Source : Christopher Whelan and Bertrand Maitre, 'Understanding material deprivation: a comparative European analysis', Research in Social Stratification and Mobility , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-08T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A collection of essays examined the role of the public, private, and voluntary sectors in prisons and probation. Source : Vicki Helyar-Cardwell (ed.), Delivering Justice: The role of the public, private and voluntary sectors in prisons and probation , Criminal Justice Alliance Links : Report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

An article examined wage discrimination against disabled persons in 11 European countries from the European Community Household Panel (1995-2001). It estimated wage equations for persons with disabilities hampering them in daily activities, for those not hampered, and for non-disabled people. Most countries showed no relevant wage differential against disabled workers not so hampered, compared with non-disabled workers. Where it existed, it related mainly to low-productivity characteristics, not wage discrimination. However, compared with non-disabled workers, disabled workers hampered in daily activities suffered from low-productivity characteristics and wage discrimination. Source : Miguel Malo and Ricardo Pagan, 'Wage differentials and disability across Europe: discrimination and/or lower productivity?', International Labour Review , Volume 151 Issues 1-2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A new book brought together empirical studies of the work-life nexus in developed countries with a specific focus on men's working time arrangements, how men navigated and traversed paid work and family commitments, and the impact of public and organizational policies on men's participation in work, leisure, and other life domains. Source : Paula McDonald and Emma Jeanes (eds.), Men, Wage Work and Family , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the effect of dismissal regulations in developed (OECD) countries on different types of gross worker flows. The more restrictive the regulation, the smaller was the rate of within-industry job-to-job transitions, in particular towards permanent jobs. By contrast, no significant effect was found as regards separations involving an industry change or persistent joblessness. The extent of reinstatement in the case of unfair dismissal appeared to be the most important regulatory determinant of gross worker flows. Source : Andrea Bassanini and Andrea Garnero, Dismissal Protection and Worker Flows in OECD Countries: Evidence from cross-country/cross-industry data , Discussion Paper 6535, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn) Links : Paper

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

An article examined the evolving relationship between the concept of discrimination in international labour law and the socio-economic phenomenon of inequality at work. Although non-discrimination was initially understood as a fairly limited legal principle mandating equal treatment for similarly situated individuals, it subsequently expanded to address indirect discrimination resulting from apparently neutral rules, standards, and practices at work. It had expanded further to take on group-based patterns of inequality at work related to the structural constraints of the market, the family, and community life, ultimately resulting in convergence between anti-discrimination law and legal initiatives to reduce class-based socio-economic inequality and poverty. Source : Colleen Sheppard, 'Mapping anti-discrimination law onto inequality at work: expanding the meaning of equality in international labour law', International Labour Review, Volume 151 Issues 1-2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs said that the government needed to employ a basket of measures, covering all tenures of housing, if sufficient finance were ever to be available to tackle England's housing crisis. The committee set out four key areas for action: Changes to the financing of housing associations, including a new role for the historic grant on their balance sheets. New and innovative models, including a massive expansion of self-build housing. Source : Financing of New Housing Supply , Eleventh Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1652, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | Additional written evidence | LGA press release | BBC report | Inside Housing report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report examined the affordability of housing in London. It looked at buying, renting, and the potential impact on affordability of the coalition government's welfare reforms. The most effective solution was to increase the supply of new and affordable homes. It proposed the following options for further consideration: Improving London's welfare reforms by (in the short term) raising the local housing allowance (LHA) caps in London by 10 per week, and (in the longer term) devolving power and responsibility for housing benefit to the mayor. Increasing the taxation of foreign buyers of prime London property. Source : Phil McCarvill, Declan Gaffney, and Matt Griffith, Affordable Capital? Housing in London , Institute for Public Policy Research Links : Report | Inside Housing report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that the private finance initiative (PFI) should be abolished and replaced with a new model of public sector procurement. PFI had been one of the costliest experiments in public policy-making ever attempted, leading to 200 billion of public debt. Source : Jesse Norman MP, After PFI , Centre for Policy Studies Links : Report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

The Scottish Government began consultation on its proposals to integrate adult health and social care services. Source : Integration of Adult Health and Social Care in Scotland: Consultation on Proposals , Scottish Government Links : Consultation document

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the consequences of using time-invariant individual effects in panel data models when the unobservables were in fact time-varying. Using data from the British Offending Crime and Justice panel, it estimated a dynamic factor model of the occurrence of a range of illicit activities as outcomes of young people's development processes. This structure was then used to demonstrate that relying on the assumption of time-invariant individual effects to deal with confounding factors in a conventional dynamic panel data model was likely to lead to spurious gateway effects linking cannabis use to subsequent hard drug use. Source : Monica Hernandez and Stephen Pudney, What You Don't See Can't Hurt You? Panel data analysis and the dynamics of unobservable factors , Discussion Paper 12/06, Health Economics and Decision Science, University of Sheffield Links : Paper

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that the reform of social care proposed by the Commission on Funding and Support (the Dilnot Commission) was mainly concerned with extending eligibility for care and in effect protecting the housing wealth of those fortunate enough to have accrued it. The coalition government risked forgetting the very poorest elderly and focusing its limited resources on the wrong group. The greatest priority remained ameliorating a formal care system that treated very many people very badly: the quality of care provided was of too low a standard, and there were many who did not receive care because their needs were not deemed sufficiently severe. The government needed to focus much-needed additional funding on this group first before, at a later date, potentially phasing in the Dilnot reforms. Source : Transforming Social Care for the Poorest Older People , Centre for Social Justice Links : Report | CSJ press release | Guardian report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A letter signed by 85 organizations representing people working in frontline social care services warned that the system was in crisis chronically under-funded, and in urgent need of reform. Without urgent action, 'too many older and disabled people would be left in desperate circumstances: struggling on alone, living in misery and fear.' It called on the coalition government to convene a care summit: difficult decisions, particularly decisions on how to fund reform, needed to be made without delay. Source : Letter in Daily Mail, 4 May 2012 Links : Letter | Carers UK press release | Disability Rights UK press release | BBC report | Daily Mail report | Inside Housing report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A report evaluated the coalition government's 'Big Society' project. It said that if the initiative were to succeed it would need to target poorer communities, together with young and minority-ethnic people, and work in genuine partnership with the voluntary sector. Community organizations that were expected to deliver the project had been dealt a 'body blow' by the first tranche of expected 3.3 billion cuts in government funding to the voluntary sector over three years; and a support programme for charities at risk of going out of business was 'too little, too late'. Source : Caroline Slocock, The Big Society Audit 2012 , Civil Exchange Links : Report | Civil Exchange press release | Guardian report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

A briefing paper examined how many foreign citizens acquired British citizenship every year, their demographic characteristics, and the various bases for their grants of British citizenship. Source : Scott Blinder, Naturalisation As a British Citizen: Concepts and Trends , Migration Observatory (University of Oxford) Links : Paper

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

The education inspectorate in Wales said that local authorities needed to take action to reduce the number of surplus places in primary and secondary schools across Wales Surplus places tied up scarce resources that could be used to improve the quality of education for more learners. Source : How Do Surplus Places Affect the Resources Available for Expenditure on Improving Outcomes for Pupils? , HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales Links : Report | HMCIETW press release | BBC report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

The Welsh Government began consultation on a strategy for promoting mental health and well-being. Source : Together for Mental Health: A cross-government strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales , Welsh Government Links : Consultation document | BBC report

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-07T23:00:00Z

An article examined whether the way in which health systems were financed in high-income countries influenced whether health policy-makers were more or less interested in accessible and equitable health services. The key findings were: Health systems funded through social insurance were more preoccupied with efficiency and cost containment than tax-funded systems. Since 2003 there had been an increasing interest in initiatives that addressed public health concerns, access, and equity, and population health outcomes. Source : Tim Tenbensel, Samantha Eagle, and Toni Ashton, 'Comparing health policy agendas across eleven high income countries: islands of difference in a sea of similarity', Health Policy , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-07T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A new book examined new forms of governance in the public sector, with a focus on education and the increasingly important role of new philanthropy. It presented a new method for researching governance network ethnography- that allowed identification of the increasing influence of finance capital and education businesses in policy and public service delivery. Source : Stephen Ball and Carolina Junemann, Networks, New Governance and Education , Policy Press Links : Summary

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A new book examined community-based planning activity in England. It identified lessons for planning at the neighbourhood scale from the recent experience of drawing up parish plans, and attempts to connect these to formal policy frameworks. It considered the potential contribution of neighbourhood planning to building a 'collaborative democracy' and what could be achieved by rescaling 'statutory' planning, as opposed to expending greater effort locally on building stronger relationships, and generating trust, between 'people and planning' Source : Nick Gallent and Steve Robinson, Neighbourhood Planning: Communities, networks and governance , Policy Press Links : Summary

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the recent trend towards re-municipalizing public services in Europe, after many years when privatization, contracting-out, and outsourcing had been the dominant trends. It highlighted some of the key issues for trade unions faced by re-municipalization. Source : David Hall, Re-Municipalising Municipal Services in Europe , Public Services International Research Unit Links : Paper

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A paper examined work/care policies in 15 European countries, focusing on how certain arrangements were supported through the public policies of different welfare states and whether this had changed over time. Although there was a trend towards the support of the dual-earner model, countries still differed in the extent of work/care reconciliation policies, and the pace and timing of political reforms. Moreover, hardly any country had an entirely coherent policy. Different countries prioritized certain instruments over others, irrespective of the notion they had of any specific work/care arrangement. Source : Agnes Blome, Work/Care Policies in European Welfare States: Continuing variety or change towards a common model? , Discussion Paper 2011-401, Social Science Research Centre (Berlin) Links : Paper

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

An article examined the association between welfare state policies and the gendered organization of intergenerational support to older parents in Europe. Daughters provided somewhat more sporadic and much more intensive support than sons throughout Europe. Although about half of all children who sporadically supported a parent were men, this applied to only 1 out of 4 children who provided intensive support. Legal obligations were positively associated with daughters' likelihood of giving intensive support to parents, but did not affect the likelihood of sons doing so. Cash-for-care schemes were also accompanied by a more unequal distribution of involvement in intensive support at the expense of women. Social services, in contrast, were linked to a lower involvement of daughters in intensive support. The results suggested that welfare states could both preserve or reduce gender inequality in intergenerational support depending on specific arrangements. Source : Tina Schmid, Martina Brandt and Klaus Haberkern,, 'Gendered support to older parents: do welfare states matter?', European Journal of Ageing, Volume 9 Number 1 Links : Abstract

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

An article examined how long-term care systems, and in particular the incorporation of needs-based entitlements to care services or benefits, influenced formal and informal care utilization dynamics in Europe. In all countries, formal and informal care were more often complements than substitutes. The likelihood of becoming a formal or informal care user varied significantly between countries. In the Scandinavian countries and in several continental European countries with needs-based entitlements, the transition to formal care was strongly related to informal support being or becoming unavailable. There was little evidence of country differences in the effect of health variables on the transition to formal care. Although rates of formal care utilization continued to differ considerably between European countries, formal care allocation practices were not very dissimilar across northern and continental European welfare states: there was evidence for all countries of targeting of older persons living alone and of the most care-dependent older people. Source : Joanna Geerts and Karel Van den Bosch, 'Transitions in formal and informal care utilisation amongst older Europeans: the impact of national contexts', European Journal of Ageing, Volume 9 Number 1 Links : Abstract

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

An article examined variations in the use of preventive health services by people aged 50 and over in 14 European countries (including the United Kingdom). There were significant variations both within and between European countries. In all countries, higher-educated and higher-income groups used more preventive services. At the health system level, high public health expenditures and high family doctor density were associated with a high level of preventive care use: but specialist density did not appear to have any effect. Payment schemes for family doctors and specialists appeared to significantly affect the incentives to provide preventive healthcare: in systems where doctors were paid by fee-for-service, the utilization of all health services, including cancer screening, was higher. Source : Florence Jusot, Zeynep Or, and Nicolas Sirven, 'Variations in preventive care utilisation in Europe', European Journal of Ageing, Volume 9 Number 1 Links : Abstract

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A new book said that the future of the welfare state in Europe looked increasingly uncertain in an age of government-imposed austerity, and after 30 years of neo-liberal restructuring. It identified the most important challenges, and presented practical proposals for combating the assault on welfare. The welfare state should be seen as the result of a class compromise forged in the 20th century, which meant that it could not easily be exported internationally. It was now going through a paradigm shift, illustrated by the shift from welfare to workfare, and increased top-down control. Source : Asbjorn Wahl, The Rise and Fall of the Welfare State , Pluto Press Links : Summary

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A report examined the impact of outsourcing on the delivery of National Health Service services. Much of the evidence demonstrated either the negative aspects of introducing competition into the provision of healthcare services or inconclusive results. A lack of data made it difficult to assess the impact of contracted-out services on accessibility of services and health outcomes. Overall, there was a lack of evidence to show that outsourcing led to improved quality of patient care. The experience of outsourcing cleaning services showed that there was a negative impact on patient care. Outsourcing of clinical services showed some negative effects on patient care, poor value for money, and inadequate monitoring and evaluation. Although there was some evidence of the benefits of shared services, the experience of the NHS information technology project was a clear failure of outsourcing. Source : Jane Lethbridge, Empty Promises: The impact of outsourcing on the delivery of NHS services , Unison Links : Report

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

An article examined the impact of recent changes in suicide rates in men aged under 45 years on the geographic distribution of suicide in England and Wales, for the period 1981-2005. Source : David Gunnell, Ben Wheeler, Shu-Sen Chang, Bethan Thomas, Jonathan Sterne, and Danny Dorling, 'Changes in the geography of suicide in young men: England and Wales 1981-2005', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health , Volume 66 Number 6 Links : Abstract

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A pamphlet said that successive governments had undermined the social security system to the point where it no longer enjoyed popular support. Rather than the 'something for nothing' system attacked by populist politicians, there was a 'nothing for something' system from which few people benefited, but which cost a great deal through increasingly higher national insurance contributions. The result was a system that paid poor benefits, yet was seen by many as over-generous and subject to widespread abuse. The pamphlet called for the restoration of a genuine national insurance system. It said that the stigma of claiming could be reduced by raising the perceived value of contributions by ensuring that many more people got some benefit or help in return at some stage in their lives. Pooling risk across the population through national insurance would be cheaper and more efficient than for-profit private schemes. The national insurance fund should be reinstated as a genuine pot of money, rather than a fiction used to raise taxes. New contributory benefits could also provide help for parents, with training, and for unemployed people giving higher benefits to those who had paid in sufficient contributions. Source : Kate Bell and Declan Gaffney, Making a Contribution: Social security for the future , Trades Union Congress Links : Pamphlet | TUC press release

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

An article examined how citizen participation in local public services had been conceived and enacted under successive New Labour governments during the period 1997-2010. The emphasis on public participation was central to the ethos of New Labour: this accounted for the persistence of the participation agenda even in the face of scant empirical evidence that specific engagement and empowerment initiatives were successful. Significantly, there was no single New Labour participation narrative. There were instead several distinct strands, drawing variously from the party's received traditions of state welfarism, corporatist central-local relations, municipal socialism, Blairite managerialism, and, lastly, mutual co-operativism. Source : John Fenwick and Janice McMillan, 'Public participation and public service modernization: learning from New Labor?', International Journal of Public Administration, Volume 35 Issue 6 Links : Abstract

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A report examined the policy recommendations that emerged from a European Community research study into processes of social inclusion and exclusion among young adult immigrants in seven European countries (including the United Kingdom). It focused specifically on London, highlighting the consequences for young migrants of immigration and welfare policy. To make the step from welfare dependence to unlocking their potential for the whole of society required a shift in social policy and a 'leap of political imagination'. Source : Shamser Sinha and Les Back, A Door to the Future? The consequences for young migrants of immigration and welfare policy A summary report , Goldsmiths University of London Links : Report

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

The first results were published of a new 'Humankind Index' for Scotland, designed to measure prosperity through a wider set of indicators than simple Gross Domestic Product. The index involved a weighted set of elements ('sub-domains') that people had reported as being the most important influences on their ability to live well: Living in a neighbourhood where people could enjoy going outside, and having a clean and healthy environment. Having good relationships with family and friends. Access to green and wild spaces, and to community spaces and play areas. Between 2007-08 and 2009-10 Scotland's prosperity had increased by 1.2 per cent, according to the index. Deprived areas had a measured prosperity (in terms of index points) 10 per cent below the figure for Scotland as a whole, coming off worse on 12 of 15 sub-domains. The major disparities were in terms of whether people were able to enjoy going outside and having a clean and healthy environment; access to green spaces and play areas; and safety. These three areas accounted for just over 40 per cent of the difference between deprived communities and Scotland as a whole. Source : Stewart Dunlop and Katherine Trebeck (with Kim Swales and Jennifer Glinski), The Oxfam Humankind Index for Scotland: First Results , Oxfam Scotland Links : Report | Summary | Methodology

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the process of transitions from education into the labour market, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom There was strong evidence from developed countries that, even before the latest recession, transitions were becoming longer, more complex, and conditional than they used to be. The paper explored what structural factors might underlie these changes, and their implications for policy-makers and those working within the education and training system. Insofar as these developments could be addressed by policy, a major consideration was the role that employers might need to play, not least in terms of the attitudes and behaviours that they displayed towards the process of recruitment, selection, induction, and development of new entrants to workforce. Source : Ewart Keep, Youth Transitions, the Labour Market and Entry into Employment: Some reflections and questions , Research Paper 108, Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (Cardiff and Oxford Universities) Links : Paper

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the lives of British Muslim women, exploring issues of femininity, Britishness, inter-communal relations, and social cohesion. Source : Sariya Contractor, Muslim Women in Britain: De-mystifying the Muslimah , Routledge (Publication date: July 2012) Links : Summary

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-05T23:00:00Z

An article examined life course patterns and their consequences for income inequality in Britain and Germany. The liberal welfare state in Britain generated more unstable retirement trajectories that were more dissimilar across the population than the conservative-corporatist welfare state in Germany. Contrary to common conjectures, this was not associated with higher income inequality among retirees in Britain: there was no simple straightforward link between life course patterns and income inequality. Source : Anette Eva Fasang, 'Retirement patterns and income inequality', Social Forces , Online first publication Links : Article

2012-05-05T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 was given Royal assent. The Act (mainly relating to England and Wales) cut access to legal aid, introduced tougher punishment for certain crimes (such as knife crime), promoted a 'rehabilitation revolution' to prevent offenders committing further crime, outlawed squatting, created tougher community sentences, replaced the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence, and doubled to 30 years the starting point for sentences for murders motivated by hate on grounds of disability or transgender. Source : Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 , Ministry of Justice, TSO Links : Act | Explanatory notes | MOJ press release

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on the growth of violent extremism over two years after its publication. It said that a large majority of the committee's recommendations had been incorporated in the new 'Prevent' strategy, published in June 2011. Source : Preventing Violent Extremism: Government Response to the Committee's Sixth Report , Fourth Special Report (Session 2010-2012), HC 1951, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO Links : Response Notes : MPs report (March 2010)

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

A report (by an official advisory body) said that putting green infrastructure such as parks, gardens, and trees at the heart of neighbourhoods could bring significant economic benefits. People living in areas with more green space also tended to be healthier, both physically and mentally, even after accounting for the tendency of wealthier people to live in more attractive areas. Source : Tim Sunderland , Microeconomic Evidence for the Benefits of Investment in the Environment Review , Natural England Links : Report | Summary | Natural England press release

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

An article presented new data on the average skill levels of the European Union workforce. There was evidence of a pronounced rise in labour quality in most countries after 2007. Source : Lili Kang, Mary O'Mahony, and Fei Peng, 'New measures of workforce skills in the EU', National Institute Economic Review, Volume 220 Number 1 Links : Abstract

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

An article examined recent trends (1998-2009) in the number of years of schooling that a child aged 6 could expect to attend until their 30th birthday, for European Union countries. All countries had seen an increase in the number of expected years of schooling, which was driven mainly by increased tertiary enrolment rates. The dispersion of expected length of education among countries had also decreased. In spite of this progress, some countries would find it difficult to meet their national targets for tertiary educational attainments for people aged 30-34 in 2020. This was largely because the tertiary education participation rates of young males had been falling behind those of females in many countries. It would be preferable to supplement the educational attainment target with an enrolment target for people aged 20-24. Source : Mikkel Barslund, 'Recent developments in selected education indicators and their relation to Europe 2020 targets', National Institute Economic Review, Volume 220 Number 1 Links : Abstract

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

A paper said that efforts to measure multidimensional poverty and social exclusion in rich countries had hitherto been 'predominantly ad hoc', and had relied on data that were far from ideal. It applied an approach to European countries that had mostly been discussed in a development context, using newly available microdata on deprivation. Multidimensional poverty was characterized and decomposed in terms of the contribution of different deprivation dimensions, and an account of cross-national and socio-economic variation in risk levels was presented that was in line with theoretical expectations. Multilevel analysis of multi-dimensional poverty provided the basis for assessment of the role of macro and micro characteristics and their interaction in relation to levels and patterns of multidimensional poverty and social exclusion. Source : Christopher Whelan, Brian Nolan, and Bertrand Maitre, Multidimensional Poverty Measurement in Europe: An application of the adjusted headcount approach , WP2012/11, Geary Institute (University College Dublin) Links : Paper

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the pension reform process in Europe. It considered options designed to bring entitlement systems closer to fiscal balance and still achieve their key aims. There was no single policy prescription that could solve all problems at once. Reform elements include a freeze in the contribution and tax rates, an indexation of benefits to the dependency ratio, measures to stop the existing trend towards early retirement, an adaptation of the normal retirement age to increased life expectancy, and more reliance on private savings. Source : Axel Borsch-Supan, Entitlement Reforms in Europe: Policy mixes in the current pension reform process , Working Paper 18009, National Bureau of Economic Research (Massachusetts, USA) Links : Paper

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the institutional patterns and politics of racial discrimination in Europe. It highlighted an 'incompatibility' between declarations of universal values (such as human rights and democracy) and institutionalized actions that excluded and discriminated against Europeans of immigrant background and against ethnic minorities. Source : Masoud Kamali, Racial Discrimination: Institutional Patterns and Politics , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

A new book said that social cohesion was achieved through people (new arrivals as well as the long-term settled) being able to resolve the conflicts and tensions within their day-to-day lives in ways that they found positive and viable. It challenged the view that social cohesion was about the assimilation of new immigrants through acceptance of shared values of 'Britishness'. It was instead achieved through people's broad acceptance of a diverse Britain, and by navigating the fine lines between separateness and commonalities/differences and unity in the places where they lived. Source : Mary Hickman, Nicola Mai, and Helen Crowley, Migration and Social Cohesion in the UK , Palgrave Macmillan Links : Summary

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

The Scotland Act 2012 was given Royal assent. The Act provided for provided the Scottish Parliament with new tax and borrowing powers including setting a Scottish income tax rate each year covering approximately 35 per cent of its revenue spending. Source : Scotland Act 2012 , Scotland Office, TSO Links : Act | Explanatory notes | BBC report

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MSPs said that the voluntary sector and independent providers of care should have a greater role in delivering integrated health and social care. Source : Inquiry Into Integration of Health and Social Care , 5th Report 2012, SP Paper 121, Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee Links : Report | Scottish Parliament press release

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

An article examined trends in time use in seven industrialized countries (including the United Kingdom) from the 1970s onwards. There had been general decreases in men's market work coupled with increases in men's unpaid work and childcare, and increases in women's paid work and childcare coupled with decreases in unpaid work. Trends in leisure inequality mirrored the general increase in income and earnings inequality experienced in most countries over this period, especially after the mid-1980s. Source : Almudena Sevilla and Jose Ignacio Gimenez-Nadal, 'Trends in time allocation: a cross-country analysis', European Economic Review , Online first publication Links : Abstract See also : Jose Ignacio Gimenez-Nadal and Almudena Sevilla, Trends in Time Allocation: A cross-country analysis , Discussion Paper 547, Department of Economics, University of Oxford

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-03T23:00:00Z

An article examined the 'feminization' of poverty in 12 welfare states (including the United Kingdom) between the 1980s and the 2000s. Although the feminization of poverty had been slowed down and even reversed in certain cases, cross-regime differences had become increasingly visible. A new measurement of poverty would be required to capture the multi-dimensional features of the feminization of poverty, including the issue of human capital. Source : Jin Wook Kim and Young Jun Choi, 'Feminisation of poverty in 12 welfare states: consolidating cross-regime variations?', International Journal of Social Welfare , Online first publication Links : Abstract See also : Jin Wook Kim and Young Jun Choi, Feminisation of Poverty in 12 Welfare States: Strengthening cross-regime variations? , Working Paper 549, Luxembourg Income Study

2012-05-03T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report examined the potential role of private philanthropy in supporting families suffering from complex problems and disadvantage. There were three priorities for private funding: Intensive, long-term support for the most challenging families. There was good evidence that an assertive key worker approach could help families get back on track as long as support was over the long term and caseloads remained small. Additional mental health support for parents. There was a need for staff who were trained to recognize mental health problems, make timely referrals, and provide families with practical support. Source : Matthew van Poortvliet, Out of Trouble: Families with complex problems , New Philanthropy Capital Links : Report | Guardian report

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report examined case law relating to religious discrimination and freedom of religion under Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights. It considered the ways in which the right to manifest religion or belief could generally be limited, including in the field of employment, education, the provision of goods and services, and in public spaces (such as the ban on veils covering the whole face). It then discussed the ways in which the right to manifest religion or belief could specifically be limited where it conflicted with the rights of others, including the rights persons identified by sexual orientation, gender, or children. Source : Equality Law in Practice: A Question of Faith Religion and belief in Europe , Equinet (European Network of Equality Bodies) Links : Report

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A paper examined how wages inequalities translated into standard of living inequalities in different European countries. It proposed a new methodology to decompose the impact of wage, family, and social transfers on income inequality. Source : Guillaume Allegre, Work, Family or State? From wage inequalities to standard of living inequalities and in-work poverty in a European cross-country perspective , Working Paper 2012-12, French Economic Observatory (Sciences Po, Paris) Links : Paper

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report said that widespread inequalities meant that many young people in Europe were not as healthy as they could be. Health depended on age, gender, geography, and family affluence. Health promotion programmes needed to be sensitive to socio-economic and other differences, and should aim to create a fair situation for all young people. Source : Candace Currie, Cara Zanotti, Antony Morgan, Dorothy Currie, Margaretha de Looze, Chris Roberts, Oddrun Samdal, Otto Smith, and Vivian Barnekow (eds.), Social Determinants of Health and Well-Being Among Young People: Health behaviour in school-aged children (HBSC) study International report from the 2009/2010 survey , World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe) Links : Report | WHO press release

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report highlighted the 'corrosive impact' of overcrowding in women's prisons on the work of charities and organizations that provided rehabilitation in custody and through-the-gate services on release. Source : Carol Hedderman, Empty Cells or Empty Words? Government policy on reducing the number of women going to prison , Criminal Justice Alliance Links : Report

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report examined shared management schemes between different local authorities. It looked at issues surrounding culture, internal and external perceptions of mergers, and the potential barriers to success. Source : Crossing the Border: Research into shared chief executives , Local Government Association Links : Report

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A study examined how poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland had changed since 2009. It found that: Pensioner poverty had risen by 27 per cent. Children on free school meals were less likely to attain expected levels of educational qualifications. In 2011, 38 per cent of working-age women had been workless compared with 28 per cent of working-age men. This gap was closing and the gap in full-time hourly pay rates between women and men had closed. Source : Tom MacInnes, Hannah Aldridge, Anushree Parekh, and Peter Kenway, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Northern Ireland 2012 , Joseph Rowntree Foundation Links : Report | Findings | JRF press release | NICCY press release

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report said that older people were a benefit, rather than a burden, to the economy and society, and that the benefits of living longer would outweigh the additional health and social care costs of population ageing. In future decades, greater participation by people in their 60s and 70s in formal and informal work, alongside additional decreases in the number of life years spent with major disabilities, could increase national income by up to 10 per cent. A linked paper examined public awareness of, and attitudes to, population ageing. Source : David Taylor and Jennifer Gill, Active Ageing: Live Longer and Prosper? Towards realising a second demographic dividend in 21st century Europe , UCL School of Pharmacy | Dylan Kneale, Mark Mason, and Sally-Marie Bamford, Population Ageing: Pomp or Circumstance , International Longevity Centre UK Links : UCL press release | Paper

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs called for an end to the routine use of the private finance initiative to pay for public infrastructure, saying that private sector profit rates were sometimes 'difficult to justify'. They said that the PFI model was 'unsustainable and inappropriate'. Source : Equity Investment in Privately Financed Projects , Eighty-first Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1846House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | Public Finance report

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An audit report was published on assurance for major government projects, such as the introduction of large information technology systems. It said that the changes that government had made to the central assurance system for such projects in particular, the launch of the Major Projects Authority had resulted in some significant improvements. However, the system was not yet 'built to last'. Processes needed to be formalized, and the Authority, HM Treasury, and departments needed to co-operate more if these improvements were to continue. Transparent reporting of project data would also create a more effective and enduring system. Source : Assurance for Major Projects , HC 1698 (Session 2010-2012), National Audit Office, TSO Links : Report | NAO press release | Public Finance report

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An article examined the health outcomes and behaviours of the employed, unemployed, and economically inactive populations in Scotland. Although ongoing health promotion and vocational rehabilitation efforts needed to be directed towards all groups, the results suggested that the economically inactive group was at higher risk, and that policies and strategies directed at this group might need particular attention. Source : Judith Brown, Evangelia Demou, Madeleine Tristram, Harper Gilmour, Kaveh Sanati, and Ewan Macdonald, 'Employment status and health: understanding the health of the economically inactive population in Scotland', BMC Public Health , Volume 12 Links : Article | Abstract

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A think-tank paper (by a Conservative MP) said that introducing direct payments as an option for social care could cut around 1 billion a year from spending on residential care. Direct payments should be made to family members to support informal care. People should be offered a lower cash payment than the care package many would take this offer up because of the flexibility and freedom it offered. The role of local authorities should be to assess and allocate resources to individuals, and to ensure that an effective market could thrive: their role in commissioning and purchasing services should be drastically reduced. Source : Chris Skidmore MP, The Social Care Market: Fixing a Broken System , Free Enterprise Group Links : Paper | FEG press release

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

A report said that there was significant potential to increase the impact and effectiveness of worklessness programmes led by housing providers. It recommended that housing providers improve the targeting of employability initiatives; place a greater focus on impact measurement; and build stronger links between housing provider-led initiatives and wider government-funded activity, including the Work Programme. Source : Laura Gardiner and Dave Simmonds, Housing Providers' Approaches to Tackling Worklessness: Assessing value and impact , Housing Associations' Charitable Trust Links : Report | HACT press release

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An article examined intergenerational dynamics among British South Asians regarding education and family life. It investigated the perspectives of grandparents, parents, and young people in order to establish how family attributes and education were perceived by these three groups. It highlighted an emphasis on the acquisition of educational capital for upward social mobility among all groups. Source : Tehmina Basit, 'Educational capital as a catalyst for upward social mobility amongst British Asians: a three-generational analysis', British Educational Research Journal , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An article examined the major competing perspectives regarding the participation of unemployed people in Europe in undeclared work. These were: firstly, the 'marginalization' perspective, which held that unemployed people disproportionately participated in and gained from undeclared work; and secondly, the 'reinforcement' perspective, which held that unemployed people benefited less from undeclared work than those in declared employment, meaning that undeclared work reinforced, rather than reduced, the inequalities produced by the declared realm. Drawing on 2007 Eurobarometer survey on undeclared work, the authors found that the marginalization perspective was applicable to southern Europe, and the reinforcement perspective to Nordic nations. However, in east-central Europe and western European nations, as well as the European Union as a whole, the marginalization and reinforcement perspectives were not mutually exclusive, but co-existed; unemployed people were more likely to participate in undeclared work, but received significantly lower earnings and gained less from undeclared work than those working undeclared who were in declared jobs. Source : Colin Williams and Sara Nadin, 'Evaluating the participation of the unemployed in undeclared work: evidence from a 27-nation European survey', European Societies , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An article said that young people who had spent all or part of their childhoods in public care were at particular risk of social exclusion as adults: and yet the pathway out of exclusion identified by policy-makers at both European and national levels education was very difficult to access. Using data from a five-country study of the post-compulsory educational pathways of young people in public care, the authors examined the rates of participation of young people in further and higher education and considered what might account for the gap, looking at two factors: the impact of background social class on educational support, and the educational intentions and practices of the care system. Source : Claire Cameron, Sonia Jackson, Hanan Hauari, and Katie Hollingworth, 'Continuing educational participation among children in care in five countries: some issues of social class', Journal of Education Policy , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An article examined existing literature on the prevalence of mental health disorders in probation populations, in order to inform the provision of health services to this group. There was a high prevalence of mental illness and high rates of co-morbidity in offenders on probation. However, variation in study settings and methodology made it difficult to reach firm conclusions on the likely prevalence of mental illness in probation populations from the existing literature. There was a need for further high-quality research. Source : Coral Sirdifield, 'The prevalence of mental health disorders amongst offenders on probation: a literature review', Journal of Mental Health , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An article examined the recent restructuring and subsequent convergence of European long-term care models. It highlighted the increased role of migrant care workers, and the need for greater social and governmental recognition for all care providers. The provision of long-term care was complex, divided between state, market, and family providers; the state alone could not and did not act as the sole provider of care. The extent to which different sectors were relied upon was largely dependent on the ideology of the country's welfare state. Source : Alice Anderson, 'Europe's care regimes and the role of migrant care workers within them', Journal of Population Ageing , Online first publication Links : Article

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-02T23:00:00Z

An article examined inequality of opportunity in 23 European countries in 2005. Source : Gustavo Marrero and Juan Gabriel Rodriguez, 'Inequality of opportunity in Europe', Review of Income and Wealth , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-02T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A set of reports evaluated a programme that was designed to support able young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain a place at a top university. Young people in the programme identified a wide range of benefits accruing to them as a result of participation. Source : Emily Lamont, Joshua Flack, and Anne Wilkin, An Evaluation of the Reach for Excellence Programme: Cohort One , National Foundation for Educational Research | Joshua Flack, Emily Lamont, and Anne Wilkin, Evaluation of the Reach for Excellence Programme, Cohort One: Longitudinal Report , National Foundation for Educational Research | Joshua Flack, Emily Lamont, and Anne Wilkin, An Evaluation of the Reach for Excellence Programme: Cohort Two , National Foundation for Educational Research | Kelly Kettlewell, Emily Lamont, and Helen Aston, Evaluation of the Reach for Excellence Programme: Longitudinal Report for Cohorts 1 and 2 , National Foundation for Educational Research | Emily Lamont, Palak Mehta, Jane Nicholas, and Helen Aston, An Evaluation of the Reach for Excellence programme: Cohort 3 and School/College Link Views , National Foundation for Educational Research Links : Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | Report (4) | Report (5)

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A report examined workplace employee representation in Europe. Around one-third (34 per cent) of workplaces with 10 or more employees had a trade union or works council body in place. Considerable variation existed between countries, and according to industry sector and workplace size. Workplace representation was more prevalent in countries where national or sectoral bargaining dominated. It was also higher in countries with more extensive levels of legislative support for workplace representation. Source : Alex Bryson, John Forth, and Anitha George, Workplace Employee Representation in Europe , European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions Links : Report | NIESR press release

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A study examined how older people sought to maintain a sense of well-being, often in circumstances where this was difficult; what helped them do this; and what got in the way of 'being well.' Source : Lizzie Ward, Marian Barnes, and Beatrice Gahagan, Well-Being in Old Age: Findings from participatory research , University of Brighton and Age Concern Links : Report | Summary

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

The coalition government published an annual report on measures taken in accordance with the European Union 2020 strategy for inclusive economic growth. It said that it was committed to making wide-ranging social reforms, including transforming children's life chances, reforming welfare systems, improving education, increasing social mobility, and tackling child poverty. The government aimed to achieve this objective by: • Taking actions that would focus on prevention and early intervention. • Concentrating interventions on recovery and independence, not maintenance. • Promoting work for those who could as the most sustainable route out of poverty, while offering unconditional support to those who were severely disabled and could not work. • Recognizing that the most effective solutions would often be designed and delivered at a local level. • Ensuring that interventions provided a fair deal for the taxpayer. Source : Europe 2020: UK National Reform Programme 2012 , HM Treasury Links : Report | Hansard

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A paper examined deliberation as a research technique (as opposed to policy-making or public consultation). The purpose of deliberation was to uncover the public's informed, considered, and collective view on a normative question often in relation to research on poverty, well-being, and inequality, where there was a need to define and justify the thresholds and concepts adopted on a deeper basis than convention alone could offer. The paper compared deliberative research with more traditional methods of studying the values of the general public, such as in-depth interviewing, attitudinal surveys, and participatory approaches. Deliberative designs involved a number of assumptions, including a strong fact/value distinction, an emphasis on 'outsider' expertise, and a view of participants as essentially similar to each other rather than defined by socio-demographic differences. Normative decisions permeated the design and implementation of deliberative research: although it had the potential to provide uniquely considered, insightful, and well justified answers, transparency at all stages of the process was essential. Source : Tania Burchardt, Deliberative Research As a Tool to Make Value Judgements , CASEpaper 159, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (London School of Economics) Links : Paper | Abstract

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the transformation of recent drug policy, the growing emphasis on links with crime, and the integration of drug treatment within the criminal justice system. It explored how the strategic vision of the drug-crime 'problem' had shaped the ways in which drug-using offenders were identified, targeted, and managed. Source : Toby Seddon, Lisa Williams, and Robert Ralphs, Tough Choices: Risk, security and the criminalization of drug policy , Oxford University Press Links : Summary

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A paper said that spending cuts, efforts to protect low-income groups from some of their effects, and 'localized' decision-making were together leading to an increase in the numbers of means tests designed by lower-level institutions. It examined a case study of the effects of this, looking at the means-tested support that had been offered to students in England applying to go to university from autumn 2012, designed partly to offset the rise in general fees to or towards 9,000. Although using a common income definition, each university had designed its own system with widely varying criteria. Taken with the national maintenance grant system, these implied substantially different levels of support for students from lower- and higher-income families. Nearly all of them involved significant downward steps or 'cliff edges' in support at particular income levels, and high marginal withdrawal rates. As well as introducing extra complexity and questions of equity in treatment within student finance, this kind of development ran counter to other parts of government policy, such as universal credit, intended to smooth out and simplify means tests. As localization was pushed further, and more agencies became responsible for designing their own mean tests, the lack of a system to take an overview of their overlapping effects, and to avoid undesirable design features, would became an increasing problem across social policy. Source : John Hills and Ben Richards, Localisation and the Means Test: A case study of support for English students from autumn 2012 , CASEpaper 160, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (London School of Economics) Links : Paper | Abstract

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A new book provided a critical overview of the history of inclusive education policy and practice developments. Source : Anastasia Liasidou, Inclusive Education, Politics and Policymaking , Continuum International Publishing Links : Summary

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

An article examined the proposition that technical change had had a polarizing impact on the employment structure of advanced capitalist economies, with a relative expansion of jobs occupying the top and bottom of the wage/skills hierarchy and the middle shrinking. It presented alternative evidence on the nature of change in European employment structures between 1995 and 2007: rather than a pervasive process of polarization, there was a plurality of patterns of structural employment change across Europe. Source : Enrique Fernandez-Macias, 'Job polarization in Europe? Changes in the employment structure and job quality, 1995-2007', Work and Occupations, Volume 39 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 was given Royal assent. The Act included a wide range of measures, including: bringing in a new framework for police retention of fingerprints and DNA data, and requiring schools to get parents' consent before processing children's biometric information; introducing a code of practice for surveillance camera systems, and providing for judicial approval of certain surveillance activities by local authorities; providing for a code of practice to cover officials' powers of entry, with these powers being subject to review and repeal; introducing a new regime for police stops and searches under the Terrorism Act 2000, and reducing the maximum pre-charge detention period under that Act from 28 to 14 days; and restricting the scope of the 'vetting and barring' scheme for protecting vulnerable groups, and making changes to the system of criminal records checks. Source : Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 , Home Office, TSO Links : Act | Explanatory notes | Home Office press release

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A report examined single homeless people's experiences of the work capability assessment, introduced in October 2008 to assess entitlement to employment and support allowance. The vast majority of respondents (81 per cent) did not feel positive about their experience of the assessment. Being asked to attend a face-to-face medical assessment made nearly all people (97 per cent) stressed, anxious, and worried that their claim would be turned down. Over one-half of respondents (55 per cent) were deemed not to have 'limited capability for work' and were moved off employment and support allowance. However, outcomes varied greatly depending on whether clients were accompanied: 86 per cent of those unaccompanied were deemed not to have 'limited capacity for work', whereas the figure for those accompanied was 39 per cent. Over three-quarters of people were unhappy with the outcome of the assessment and thought that inaccurate assessment reports were to blame. Source : Single Homeless People's Experiences of the Work Capability Assessment , Crisis Links : Report

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive published a strategy aimed at eliminating long-term homelessness and rough sleeping by 2020. A new integrated approach included a range of initiatives, from support services to prevent homelessness to the introduction of a province-wide private rented sector access scheme. Source : Homelessness Strategy for Northern Ireland 2012-2017 , Northern Ireland Housing Executive Links : Strategy | NIHE press release

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A report examined developments in integration policy since 1997. Despite experiencing large-scale immigration flows and settlement over the previous half-century, the United Kingdom had not developed a formal integration programme. Few public policies had specifically sought to advance immigrant integration, and the political debates surrounding immigrant integration had often been fraught and destabilizing, reflecting deep-seated ambivalence in society about immigrants and immigration. Source : Shamit Saggar and Will Somerville, Building a British Model of Integration in an Era of Immigration: Policy lessons for government , Migration Policy Institute Links : Report

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

An interim report by an all-party group of MPs said that the point of greatest leverage for social mobility was what happened between ages 0 and 3, primarily in the home. It was also possible to improve social mobility through education the most important controllable factor being the quality of teaching received. University was the top determinant of later opportunities so pre-18 attainment was key. But later pathways to mobility were possible, 'given the will and support'. Source : 7 Key Truths About Social Mobility: Interim report , All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility Links : Report | Guardian report | Nursery World report | Telegraph report

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A report called for a new strategy to stimulate growth in services to support older and disabled people and to deliver a 'triple win' for families, employers, and the economy. It said that a 'new care economy' could not only help meet the needs of an ageing population and deliver substantial economic gains, but also mitigate against growing costs to business of failures in care. Source : Growing the Care Market: Turning a demographic challenge into an economic opportunity , Carers UK Links : Report | Carers UK press release | Community Care report

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A paper said that senior management appeared to have pay that was strongly associated with various measures of firm performance (such as shareholder returns and quasi-rents), whereas workers' pay was only weakly associated with such measures. A 10 per cent increase in firm value was associated with an increase of 3 per cent in the pay of chief executive officers (CEOs), but only 0.2 per cent in average workers' pay. Falls in firm performance were also followed by CEO pay cuts and significantly more CEO firings. But only senior executives had a large enough share of pay in bonuses to generate a sizeable overall effect on pay. Firms with lower levels of institutional ownership had smaller pay-performance elasticities for CEOs and did not cut their pay when performance was poor. Source : Brian Bell and John Van Reenen, Firm Performance and Wages: Evidence from across the corporate hierarchy , DP1088, Centre for Economic Performance (London School of Economics) Links : Paper

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A study examined the views of past and present users of homelessness services in Wales. It identified a culture of distrust, too much bureaucracy, a lack of compassion and respect, and a system focused on 'ticking the right boxes' rather than helping people. Source : Jacqueline Aneen Campbell (with Jennie Bibbings), Citizen Engagement on Welsh Homelessness Services and Legislation , Shelter Cymru Links : Report | Shelter press release | BBC report

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the scope for a 'private law' approach to rewarding, supporting, or compensating informal carers. It explored the recognition of the informal carer and their relationship with the care recipient within diverse fields of private law, from unjust enrichment to succession. Aspects of the analysis included the importance of a promise of a reward from the care recipient, and the appropriate measure of any remedy. Source : Brian Sloan, Informal Carers and Private Law , Hart Publishing (Publication date: November 2012) Links : Summary

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

A new book examined some of the conceptual questions that underpinned legal disputes in relation to equality and discrimination. Among these questions were the meaning of 'equality' as a legal concept and its relationship to the principle of non-discrimination; symmetrical and asymmetrical approaches to equality/non-discrimination; the role of comparators in discrimination/equality analysis; the selection of protected characteristics and the proper sphere of statutory and constitutional protections; and the scope for and regulation of potential conflicts between protected grounds. It also addressed a number of contemporary issues for discrimination/equality law, including the problem of racial profiling and the regulation of multiple discrimination. Source : Aileen McColgan, Equality and Discrimination , Hart Publishing (Publication date: November 2012) Links : Summary

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

An article examined the challenges of providing healthcare in England to men and women with learning disabilities. Source : Marcus Redley, Carys Banks, Karen Foody, and Anthony Holland, 'Healthcare for men and women with learning disabilities: understanding inequalities in access', Disability Society , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

An article examined the findings from a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on the links between crime and fear of crime, the social and built environment, and health and well-being. Crime and fear of crime might have substantial impacts on well-being: but the pathways were often highly indirect, mediated by environmental factors, difficult to disentangle, and not always in the expected direction. The built environment, for example, might affect health via its impacts on health behaviours; via its effects on crime and fear of crime; or via the social environment. There were also unexpected factors that might affect intervention success, such as the risk of adverse effects from crime prevention interventions as a result of raising awareness of crime. Source : Theo Lorenc, Stephen Clayton, David Neary, Margaret Whitehead, Mark Petticrew, Hilary Thomson, Steven Cummins, Amanda Sowden, and Adrian Renton, 'Crime, fear of crime, environment, and mental health and wellbeing: mapping review of theories and causal pathways', Health and Place , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-05-01T23:00:00Z

An article examined response patterns to a survey of schoolchildren (the Programme for International Student Assessment) that set response thresholds in an attempt to control the quality of data. It highlighted the danger of using such thresholds as a guide to quality of data. Source : John Micklewright, Sylke Schnepf, and Chris Skinner, 'Non-response biases in surveys of schoolchildren: the case of the English Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) samples', Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A , Online first publication Links : Article

2012-05-01T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined issues related to the future of the magistracy, including: resources, professionalism, community justice, and localism. Source : David Faulkner (ed.) (with Sally Dickinson), The Magistracy at the Crossroads , Waterside Press Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book presented the findings of a major longitudinal study involving a cohort of 700 young people from the age of 12, and introduced a new theory and methodology in the study of the role of the social environment in crime causation. Source : Per-Olof Wikstrom, Dietrich Oberwittler, Kyle Treiber, and Beth Hardie, Breaking Rules: The social and situational dynamics of young people's urban crime , Oxford University Press Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs highlighted research showing that even a year's exposure to a high-performing teacher had a lasting impact on pupils building confidence, earnings, and well-being later in life. It said that the government should make the recruitment and development of the best teachers a top priority. There was a need to speed up improvements in teaching quality and the systems that supported it. Ongoing professional development for teachers had been neglected for far too long. The MPs recommended a new College of Teaching and an entitlement to professional development for all teaching staff. They also proposed radical reforms to the existing career structures for teachers, and a new National Teacher Sabbatical Scholarship programme, under which outstanding teachers could undertake a period of further research or employment in a related field to improve their practice. Source : Great Teachers: Attracting, training and retaining the best , Ninth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1515, House of Commons Education Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | Oral and written evidence | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined European Union constitutional law in relation to economic and social integration, contrasting 'liberal' and 'socially embedded' constitutionalism. It proposed a 'constitution of social governance', under which the European Court of Justice and EU institutions would encourage steps towards social integration at EU level to be taken by transnational societal actors. Source : Dagmar Schiek, Economic and Social Integration: The Challenge for EU Constitutional Law , Edward Elgar Publishing Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the constitutional principles underlying European Union criminal law. Source : Ester Herlin-Karnell, The Constitutional Dimension of European Criminal Law , Hart Publishing Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the relationship between changes in state security regimes and the right to religious freedom in the European Union. Source : Karen Murphy, State Security Regimes and the Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief: Changes in Europe since 2001 , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the emergence, development, and application of European education policy up to the 2009 Lisbon Treaty and beyond. It charted the historical development of a Europe-wide education policy, and looked at how that policy had sought to address such issues as European citizenship, human rights, and bilingual schooling. Source : John Sayer and Lynn Erler (eds.), Schools for the Future Europe: Values and change beyond Lisbon , Continuum International Publishing Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the future of European law and policy in the light of the Lisbon Treaty. The Treaty was a milestone in the history of European integration: but its shortcomings and open questions made a further major treaty inevitable. Source : Martin Trybus and Luca Rubini (eds.), The Treaty of Lisbon and the Future of European Law and Policy , Edward Elgar Publishing Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book used data from 10 countries with differing levels of inequality to examine whether and how parents' resources transmitted advantage to their children at different stages of development. It highlighted the structural differences between countries that might influence intergenerational mobility. Source : John Ermisch, Markus Jantti, and Timothy Smeeding (eds.), From Parents to Children: The intergenerational transmission of advantage , Russell Sage Foundation Links : | Project summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined what the Lisbon Treaty meant for social law and social policy at the European level. Source : Niklas Bruun, Klaus Lorcher, and Isabelle Schomann (eds.), The Lisbon Treaty and Social Europe , Hart Publishing Links : Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined how a social welfare organizations 'medicalized' their environment 'solving' social problems by viewing and treating them as medical problems. Source : Mikael Holmqvist, The Institutionalization of Social Welfare: A study of medicalizing management , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined how gender inequalities in contemporary societies were changing, and how further changes towards greater gender equality might be achieved. The focus of the book was on inequalities in production and reproductive activities, as played out over time and in specific contexts. It examined the different forms that gendered lives took in the household and the workplace, and explored how gender equalities might be promoted in a changing world. It considered not only the causes of gender inequalities but also the ongoing implications for economic well-being and societal integration. Source : Jacqueline Scott, Shirley Dex, and Anke Plagnol (eds.), Gendered Lives: Gender inequalities in production and reproduction , Edward Elgar Publishing Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that there was emerging an 'intergenerational democratic deficit' whereby young cohorts were marginalized within the democratic process with obvious negative implications for young people, but also for the legitimacy of representative democracy more generally. Although it might be premature or sensationalist to proclaim the rise of a 'gerontocracy', it was clear that young people had become relatively disenfranchised, both by the ageing of the electorate and wider features of the democratic process that appeared to favour older cohorts. Source : Craig Berry, The Rise of Gerontocracy? Addressing the intergenerational democratic deficit , Intergenerational Foundation Links : Report

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book set out why, under the right conditions, constitutionalizing social rights could be a good way to advance social justice. Source : Jeff King, Judging Social Rights , Cambridge University Press Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the treatment of young adults aged 18-21 in the criminal justice system. Source : Friedrich Losel, Anthony Bottoms, and David Farrington, Young Adult Offenders: Lost in Transition? , Routledge Links :nbsp Summary

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A report examined how to improve the integration of environment issues into the European Union's cohesion policy over the period 2014-2020. Cohesion policy was missing important opportunities to promote environmentally sustainable economic development in European regions. By adopting a more innovative approach, the policy had the potential to be a key mechanism in driving the changes required for the transition towards a green, low-carbon, and resource-efficient economy. Source : Peter Hjerp, Keti Medarova-Bergstrom, F Cachia, D Evers, Magnus Grubbe, P Hausemer, P Kalinka, Marianne Kettunen, James Medhurst, G Peterlongo, Ian Skinner, and Patrick ten Brink, Cohesion Policy and Sustainable Development , Institute for European Environmental Policy (with CEE Bankwatch Network, BIO Intelligence Service, GHK Institute for Ecological Economy Research, Matrix Insight, and Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency) Links : Report

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

The European Union published an action plan designed to prevent and control pressures that derived from illegal immigration as well as abuse of legal migration routes. Source : EU Action on Migratory Pressures: A Strategic Response , European Union Links : Action plan

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

An article examined the extent to which Muslim migrants in developed (OECD) countries brought their culture with them or (alternatively) acquired the culture of their new home. On average, the basic social values of Muslim migrants fell roughly midway between those prevailing in their country of origin and their country of destination. Muslim migrants did not move to western countries with rigidly fixed attitudes: instead, they gradually absorbed much of the host culture, as assimilation theories suggested. Source : Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart, 'Muslim integration into western cultures: between origins and destinations', Political Studies, Volume 60 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A report said that procurement processes in the housing sector were 'onerous and costly', thanks to overzealous interpretations of European Union procurement rules. It recommended rationalizing regulations into three parts planning, building, and housing standards and doing away with other regulatory systems. A simplified system would drive down the cost of building affordable housing and help to attract the private sector into the market, as well as streamlining the building process in frameworks to reduce costs. Source : Rationalising Regulations for Growth and Innovation , Housing Forum Links : Report | Housing Forum press release | Inside Housing report

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

The Work and Pensions Secretary was reported as saying that plans by his own government for an extra 10 billion of welfare cuts were 'not acceptable'. The cuts were identified as necessary in the March 2012 Budget statement. Ian Duncan Smith said that welfare spending should not be 'an easy target' and the government had 'a responsibility to support people in difficulty'. Asked if he thought a further welfare cut of 10 billion was acceptable, he was reported as saying: 'My view is it's not.' Source : Interview by Ian Duncan Smith MP (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) with Times newspaper, reported by BBC, 28 April 2012 Links : BBC report | Telegraph report

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

A report examined the issues around children returning home from care. It looked at how to address the problems of reunification, and outlined new approaches to support children returning home from care and to protect them from harm. Around one-half of children who went into care because of abuse or neglect suffered further abuse if they returned home, with up to one-half of those returning to care. Source : Returning Home from Care: What's best for children , National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Links : Report | Guardian report

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

An article examined how claims for rigour and relevance could be met in action research. It introduced four factors that would support high rigour in writing scientific texts for communicating research findings: research partnering; controlling biases; standardized methods; and alternative explanations. Source : Morten Levin, 'Academic integrity in action research', Action Research , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-30T23:00:00Z

An article used the Office for National Statistics longitudinal study for England and Wales to investigate whether mixed-ethnic unions were more likely to end in divorce than co-ethnic unions. It followed married couples over the period 1991-2001 and examined their risks of divorce. There was evidence that mixed-ethnic unions had a higher risk of dissolution than co-ethnic unions. However, after controlling for partners' characteristics, most importantly the younger ages of people in mixed-ethnic unions, the risk of divorce for mixed-ethnic unions was no longer elevated: instead it lay close to the higher risk found for the two constituent co-ethnic unions. Source : Zhiqiang Feng, Paul Boyle, Maarten van Ham, and Gillian Raab, 'Are mixed-ethnic unions more likely to dissolve than co-ethnic unions? New evidence from Britain', European Journal of Population , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-30T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that that there was a lack of competition in the energy supply market, and that some consumers were paying more than necessary as a result. It forward recommendations designed to increasing competition in the energy supply market and exerting downward pressure on energy prices. Source : Reg Platt (edited by Clare McNeil), The True Cost of Energy , Institute for Public Policy Research Links : Report | Consumer Focus press release | Guardian report

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report examined the history of the fight against the practice of forced marriage. It said that successful schemes adopted a holistic approach involving communities, and focusing on prevention rather than prosecution rather than relying on criminalization alone. Source : Max Wind-Cowie, Phillida Cheetham, and Tom Gregory, Ending Forced Marriage , Demos Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

A paper called for the creation of a 'financial citizenship' framework. It said that although people's livelihoods had never been more intimately engaged with the financial system, they lacked any meaningful sense of what it meant to be a citizen in a 'financialized' age. A 'financial citizenship' framework would outline the respective responsibilities of individuals and the state regarding saving. Public policy-makers often assumed that individuals have a responsibility to save: but there was a strong case for saying that this should be accompanied by a stronger set of rights. The financial citizenship concept would complement the more prevalent notions of 'financial inclusion' and 'financial education' but it would go beyond them, providing the right to participate in collective decision-making around the operations of the financial system. Source : Craig Berry and Valentina Serra, Financial Citizenship: Rethinking the state's role in enabling individuals to save , International Longevity Centre UK Links : Report | ILC press release | Friends Provident press release

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

A study examined the actual and potential costs, benefits, and impacts of an increase in self-directed support (SDS) in Scotland. Evidence from the study suggested that, if uptake of SDS followed the same pattern as direct payments, the costs of further uptake of SDS would not differ significantly between SDS and more traditional services; nor would it lead to a reduction in service. Source : Kirstein Rummery, David Bell, Alison Bowes, Alison Dawson, and Elizabeth Roberts, Counting the Cost of Choice and Control: Evidence for the costs of self-directed support in Scotland , Scottish Government Links : Report | Summary Notes : Self-directed support is designed to enable individuals to direct the care or support they need to live more independently at home: it can be instead of, or in addition to, services that might be arranged by their local authority.

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

A new book said that power and wealth in Britain had slowly been consolidated the hands of a small elite, while the rest of the country struggled financially and 'switched off' politically. It considered why Britain had become a more unequal society over the previous 30 years; why the banks had been bailed out with taxpayers' money, while bankers were still receiving huge bonuses; and why those responsible had not been held accountable for the financial crash. It set out some of the ways in which democracy could be restored, bringing back real accountability to British business and fairness to society. Source : Ferdinand Mount, The New Few: Or a very British oligarchy , Simon Schuster Links : Summary | Guardian report

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

A report said that the 34,000 charities in England that worked primarily with children and young people would lose 405 million in statutory funding in the five years from 2011-12 to 2015-16. Children and young people's charities were particularly vulnerable to cuts, as they received more of their income from statutory sources and were four times less likely to receive corporate support. Charities were taking various actions to manage the impact of the cuts, including reducing the number of staff they employed, and cutting back on the range of services they offered, as well as developing consortia and mergers. A small but significant minority said that it was 'likely' or 'very likely' that they would be forced to close in the next 12 months. Source : Beyond the Cuts: Children's charities adapting to austerity , National Children's Bureau Links : Report | NCB press release

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that the scale of recent public sector cuts was 'unprecedented'. Although improvements in efficiency had been made, there was a need to build rapidly on the collaboration already achieved, to make further savings, and to mitigate the impact that a reduction in spending would have on service users. Source : A Picture of Public Services , Public Accounts Committee, National Assembly for Wales Links : Report

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

An article reviewed interventions designed to support looked-after children in school. No study was found robust enough to provide evidence on effectiveness: but promising interventions were identified. The review highlighted the lack of evidence in an area that had received a lot of policy attention in recent years. Future evaluations needed to be underpinned by lessons learned from existing evaluations, clearly defined theories and definitions, and by the views of professionals, researchers, policy-makers and young people in care. Source : Kristin Liabo, Kerry Gray, and David Mulcahy, 'A systematic review of interventions to support looked-after children in school', Child Family Social Work , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-29T23:00:00Z

An article examined independence in later life and its relations with mobility. Older adults were inadvertently complicit in the perpetuation of the connotations of dependency in later life with passivity, burden, and undesirability. Source : Tim Schwanen, David Banister, and Ann Bowling, 'Independence and mobility in later life', Geoforum , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-29T23:00:00Z 2012-04-28T23:00:00Z

An article examined variations in the adoption of workplace work-family arrangements in European countries. Although the welfare state context was a significant explanatory factor, the adoption of workplace arrangements was more strongly related to organizational conditions and characteristics. However, when the development of work-family arrangements was mainly left to the market, employers did not fully make up for the absence of public provision. Public provision helped to create a normative climate that gave rise to new social expectations and 'a sense of entitlement' regarding work-family support. Source : Laura den Dulk, Pascale Peters, and Erik Poutsma, 'Variations in adoption of workplace work–family arrangements in Europe: the influence of welfare-state regime and organizational characteristics', International Journal of Human Resource Management, Volume Issue Links : Abstract

2012-04-28T23:00:00Z 2012-04-28T23:00:00Z

A study found that the school lunches taken by secondary school pupils in 2011 were healthier than those of pupils in 2004. But pupils got a quarter of the recommended daily intake from lunch, rather than the third that was advised. Source : Secondary School Food Survey 2011 , School Food Trust Links : Report | Summary | BBC report

2012-04-28T23:00:00Z 2012-04-28T23:00:00Z

A new book examined how a social welfare organizations 'medicalized' their environment 'solving' social problems by viewing and treating them as medical problems. Source : Mikael Holmqvist, The Institutionalization of Social Welfare: A study of medicalizing management , Routledge (Publication date: May 2012) Links : Summary

2012-04-28T23:00:00Z 2012-04-28T23:00:00Z

An article examined the experiences of Traveller children in schools. It used data from two studies (one in Scotland and the other in England) to examine Traveller children's views about attending school (particularly in relation to their values and ambitions), their experiences of racism and prejudice, and their views on how teachers perceived them. Despite public policy discourse around citizenship, the reality was one in which Traveller children continued to be viewed as outsiders: they did not enjoy the same rights as other children, and they were not regarded as full citizens in the school environment. Source : Ross Deuchar and Kalwant Bhopal, ' We're still human beings, we're not aliens : promoting the citizenship rights and cultural diversity of Traveller children in schools: Scottish and English perspectives', British Educational Research Journal , Online first publication Links :nbsp Abstract

2012-04-28T23:00:00Z 2012-04-28T23:00:00Z

An article reported a survey of sixth-form students in England on participation decisions relating to higher education. The results suggested that financial issues were key influencers: the English higher education system might be confronted with significant changes in student choice patterns, given the finding that students showed high levels of anxiety and consequently considered a much broader range of study options within or outside higher education; in publicly funded or for-profit institutions; and in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Source : Stephen Wilkins, Farshid Shams, and Jeroen Huisman, 'The decision-making and changing behavioural dynamics of potential higher education students: the impacts of increasing tuition fees in England', Educational Studies , Online first publication Links :nbsp Abstract

2012-04-28T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

A new book examined family-related migration in Europe. There was a need to better understand the diversity of family-related migration and its resulting family forms and practices in order to question, if not counter, simplistic assumptions about migrant families in public discourses. Source : Albert Kraler, Eleonore Kofman, Martin Kohli, and Camille Schmoll (eds.), Gender, Generations and the Family in International Migration , Amsterdam University Press Links : Summary

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

An article examined the potential for 'new actors' in industrial relations to use developments in equality law to challenge government economic policy. It drew on documentary analysis of the Fawcett Society's attempt to gain a judicial review of the coalition government's 2010 emergency Budget alongside legal theory in relation to reflexive regulation and literature that examined 'new actors' in industrial relations. It considered the role of the state and social movements in pursuing gender equality, and how the latter might compete with or complement the role of trade unions. Although reflexive legislation provided opportunities for social movements to complement trade union activity, the role of the state remained contradictory, ultimately thwarting legal enforcement of equality when its economic authority and the interests of capital were threatened. Source : Hazel Conley, 'Using equality to challenge austerity: new actors, old problems', Work, Employment and Society, Volume 26 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

A paper explored tensions around the notion of citizenship and its effect on state inclusion or exclusion. It considered what they said about the nature of citizenship as a formal status, and about the nation as an imagined 'community of value'. It also examined naturalization processes as attempts to match formal citizenship with the community of value. It argued for an analytical approach that considered the exclusion of non-citizens (migrants and refugees) alongside the exclusion of 'failed' citizens (such as (ex)-prisoners and 'welfare dependents'). Source : Bridget Anderson , What Does 'The Migrant' Tell Us About the (Good) Citizen? , Working Paper 12-94, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (University of Oxford) Links : Paper

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

The Scottish Government published a report setting out the actions being undertaken in Scotland in support of the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy for inclusive growth. It identified priorities for delivering sustainable economic growth, driving recovery, boosting employment, and tackling inequality. On tackling poverty and income inequality, the framework for action aimed to: tackle income inequality by 'making work pay', maximizing the potential for people to work and maximizing income for all; take long-term measures to tackle poverty and inequality; and support those experiencing poverty. Source : Europe 2020: Scottish National Reform Programme 2012 , Scottish Government Links : Report

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

An article examined how a new body of academic literature had shown informal economic activities to be a persistent and ubiquitous feature of the economic landscape. This literature had mapped the complex and variable dynamics of formal and informal work in different populations; transcended simplistic universal structure/agency explanations for the persistence of informal work by developing context-bound understandings; and challenged the formal/informal dichotomy that represented the formal and informal sectors as separate hostile worlds. The authors highlighted possible future directions for research on this topic. Source : Colin Williams and Sara Nadin, 'Work beyond employment: representations of informal economic activities', Work, Employment and Society, Volume 26 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

An article examined the experience of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in claiming sickness-related benefits. It focused on the work and stress involved in making a claim; the felt stigma of being a claimant; and the strong desire to return to paid employment. It also highlighted a lack of documentation relating to the experience of making claims for, and of living as, a claimant of these benefits: it argued for the importance of research in this area, especially given that tightened criteria were generating even greater anxiety and risk of impoverishment. Source : Patricia de Wolfe, 'Reaping the benefits of sickness? Long-term illness and the experience of welfare claims', Disability Society , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

An article examined how young Muslims differed from older Muslims and non-Muslim peers in terms of religiosity, and their attitudes on both Islam-specific and broader social issues. Islam played a greater role in defining young Muslims' personal identity, even though they prayed and read scripture less; and they supported plural interpretations of Islam more than their elders. Like other young people, young Muslims showed liberalizing social attitudes on gay marriage and legal abortion. Notably, like young Christians, young Muslims expressed stronger support for including religion in public debates than their elders. Source : Ridhi Kashyap and Valerie Lewis, 'British Muslim youth and religious fundamentalism: a quantitative investigation', Ethnic and Racial Studies , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-27T23:00:00Z

An article examined how the general public 'traded off' the sometimes competing objectives of a cost-benefit allocation of health resources (on the one hand) and reducing health inequalities (on the other). One extra year of life in full health to someone who would otherwise die at the age of 60 years was worth more than twice as much as an additional year of life to someone who would otherwise die at the age of 70 years. These results could help inform the rationing decisions faced by all healthcare systems. Source : Paul Dolan and Akil Tsuchiya, 'It is the lifetime that matters: public preferences over maximising health and reducing inequalities in health', Journal of Medical Ethics , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-27T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that policy interventions on drugs often seemed to be defined more by political positioning, and a desire to stamp something distinctive on to the criminal justice system, than to build on and improve policies that had already had some success. The evidence did not fall on the side of one particular treatment, but rather suggested that a diverse range of quality treatments were necessary. The report suggested some ways in which marginal improvements could be made in drug rehabilitation. Although the chances of revolutionary improvements were unlikely to materialize in the near future, a careful approach to reform might be able to prevent more crime, as well as save and improve more lives. Source : Nick Cowen, Rehabilitating Drug Policy: What can we do better to reduce offending by drug addicts? , Civitas Links : Report | Civitas press release

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report presented initial findings from the second wave of the Life Opportunities Survey, a large-scale longitudinal survey of disability in Great Britain. (The survey collects information on: participation in different areas of life; the barriers that people face to participating in these areas of life; and how levels of participation and barriers to participation change over time.) Source : Fiona Dawe (ed.), Life Opportunities Survey: Wave Two Interim Report, 2010/11 , Office for National Statistics Links : Report | Technical report

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

An article drew on data from a study carried out on the evolution of specialist schools under the Labour governments (1997-2010) in order to illustrate changes in educational governance. Policy-making power had shifted away from traditional corporatist partners. A 'presidential' style of government had been accompanied by fast-growing policy networks, lending legitimacy to centralized policy ideas while intensifying connexions and blurring lines between state and non-state. However, although spaces and sites for policy activity had become more extensive, they had remained exclusive, with insiders and outsiders clearly defined. Source : Sonia Exley, 'The politics of educational policy making under New Labour: an illustration of shifts in public service governance', Policy Politics, Volume 40 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report highlighted the role of local education authorities in shaping both policy and implementation. The authorities had a 'championing' role on behalf of vulnerable groups, and in empowering parents and families to support and challenge their school to improve continuously. Source : Filling the Gap: The championing role of English councils in education , Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers Links : Report

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report said that every single faith school proposed for fast-tracking through the opening process without competition in the previous five years had been approved. This 100 per cent success rate contrasted with the results of other schools trying to open outside of competition, fewer than one-half of which had been successful. When faith schools had faced competition from non-religious proposals, barely one-third had succeeded. These results revealed a system where religious groups were uniquely and reliably able to avoid allowing local parents the choice of a viable alternative. Source : Freedom of Information Report on Organisation of 'Faith' Schools in the Maintained Sector , British Humanist Association Links : Report | BHA press release

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

Three linked reports challenged the view that raising aspirations and changing attitudes to school were a key way to improve the attainment of children from low-income families. Most young people (and their parents) attached great importance to education and wanted to go to university or to attain professional, managerial, and skilled jobs. Most did not believe that not working was acceptable, and also had realistic ambitions and expectations for the future. Source : Colleen Cummings, Karen Laing, James Law, Janice McLaughlin, Ivy Papps, Liz Todd, and Pam Woolner, Can Changing Aspirations and Attitudes Impact on Educational Attainment? A review of interventions , Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Stephen Gorard, Beng Huat See, and Peter Davies, The Impact of Attitudes and Aspirations on Educational Attainment and Participation , Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Charlotte Carter-Wall and Grahame Whitfield, The Role of Aspirations, Attitudes and Behaviour in Closing the Educational Attainment Gap , Joseph Rowntree Foundation Links : Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | JRF press release

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report compared measures of the social attainment gap in education in England. Comparisons were made difficult by the use of different methodologies: but it could be shown that the size of attainment gaps measured using PISA points and GCSE grades were in fact the same. Source : Emily Knowles and Helen Evans, PISA 2009: How Does the Social Attainment Gap in England Compare with Countries Internationally? , Research Report RR206, Department for Education Links : Report | Brief Notes : GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education; PISA = Programme for International Student Assessment

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report said that although the prevalence of privately managed schools in developed (OECD) countries was not related to socio-economic stratification within a school system, the level of public funding to privately managed schools was. The higher the proportion of public funding allocated to privately managed schools, the smaller the socio-economic divide between publicly and privately managed schools. Source : Public and Private Schools: How management and funding relate to their socio-economic profile , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Links : Report

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report examined the provision of the 'Housing First' service model in Europe immediately providing homeless people with either secure independent or communal housing before any other services. Source : Nicholas Pleace, Housing First , FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless) Links : Report

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A paper said that the global economic crisis had been caused by the interaction of financial deregulation with rising inequality. Rising inequality created a downward pressure on aggregate demand, since it was poorer income groups that had high marginal propensities to consume. It had led to higher household debt, as working-class families had tried to keep up with social consumption norms despite stagnating or falling real wages. It had also increased the propensity to speculate, because richer households tended to hold riskier financial assets than other groups the rise of hedge funds, and of subprime derivatives in particular, had been linked to rise of the 'super rich'. Source : Engelbert Stockhammer, Rising Inequality as a Root Cause of the Present Crisis , Working Paper 282, Political Economy Research Institute (University of Massachusetts, USA) Links : Paper

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A special report examined trends in statutory personal income tax and employee social security contribution provisions across developed (OECD) countries. Key findings included: On average across OECD countries, the top statutory income tax rate, inclusive of surtaxes and sub-central taxes, had declined significantly in each of the previous three decades. However, a small number of countries (including the United Kingdom) had increased their top income tax rate in 2010, signalling a reversal in the trend at a time of fiscal consolidation. In the previous decade, the statutory income tax rate levied on the average wage of a single worker had declined in 23 OECD countries. In contrast, there was no clear trend in the bottom statutory income tax rate from 2000 to 2010: although it had decreased in many OECD countries, it increased in others. Source : 'Trends in Personal Income Tax and Employee Social Security Contribution Schedules', in Taxing Wages 2011 , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Links : Report | Abstract | Table of contents

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A paper examined inequality trends in developed (OECD) countries since the 1980s. It investigated the development of inequality over time before analyzing the question of whether governments could effectively reduce inequality. There was some evidence that governments were capable of reducing income inequality despite countervailing behavioural adjustments. The effect was stronger for social expenditure policies than for progressive taxation, which seemed to trigger more inequality-increasing indirect behavioural effects. The results also suggested that the use of secondary inequality data should be handled with caution. Source : Philipp Doerrenberg and Andreas Peichl, The Impact of Redistributive Policies on Inequality in OECD Countries , Discussion Paper 6505, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn) Links : Paper

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

An article examined whether a 'regional ripple' effect in house prices could be tracked at the district level. Spatial spillover of house price growth was unlikely to be based on interlocked markets bonded by commuting or migration alone: information flows and expectations were likely to reinforce inter-district transmission. House price spillover north of the east midlands region appeared to be much more rapid than would be consistent with a 'ripple' effect, suggesting that there was some support for undertaking housing market analysis on a spatially segmented basis, even at a regional level. Source : David Gray, 'District house price movements in England and Wales 1997-2007: an exploratory spatial data analysis approach', Urban Studies , Volume 49 Number 7 Links : Abstract

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

An article examined the development and implementation of local government performance improvement regimes in England, Scotland, and Wales over the previous decade. There had been a congruence in policy goals, but a divergence in policy implementation and outcomes. The governments in all three countries had a common aim of improving local government performance. However, policy learning between different parts of the United Kingdom had been limited by differences in ideology, the nature of central-local government relations, the numbers of councils, and a political imperative for newly devolved administrations to be seen to pursue 'home-grown' solutions. Source : Sandra Nutley, James Downe, Steve Martin, and Clive Grace, 'Policy transfer and convergence within the UK: the case of local government performance improvement regimes', Policy Politics, Volume 40 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A paper analyzed the near-doubling of average real household income over the previous 40 years. It looked at the contribution to this growth from different income sources; and broke down further changes in employment income by household member and into separate participation, hours, and hourly wage effects. It carried out similar analyses for the mean income of the richest working-age households, and among a group defined by having a low household income but a strong connexion to the labour market. Source : Mike Brewer and Liam Wren-Lewis, Why Did Britain's Households Get Richer? Decomposing UK household income growth between 1968 and 2008-09 , Working Paper 2012-08, Institute for Social and Economic Research (University of Essex) Links : Working paper | Abstract

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs said that government departments faced a 'major challenge' in making the spending cuts required under the coalition government's austerity programme. Departments needed to do better at planning their finances logically, understand the relationship between costs and outcomes better, and not go for the easy option that might most damage frontline services. What was needed was an overarching strategic framework that, among other things, identified the impact of a cut in one department on expenditure in another, and the long-term impact on value for money and expenditure of short-term decisions to live within budgets. Source : Cost Reduction in Central Government: Summary of Progress , Eightieth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1845, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | Public Finance report

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report examined the impact of a 'relentless' reform agenda on professionals delivering core public services. The drive for higher-quality services came at a time when the funding available to support improvements was being urgently and radically reduced. Public service professionals were being challenged by changes to structure, process, and funding: but managers responsible for delivering rapid change were hampered by 'confused and inconsistent' messages. The report recommended that training for public sector professionals be overhauled, in order to maintain motivation in the wake of major government cuts. Source : Tony Brown and Ben Higham (with John Elliott and Christine O'Hanlon), Professional Culture Conflicts: Change issues in public service delivery , University of East Anglia Links : Report | UEA press release

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A report examined aspects of households and families that were considered to be significant in the production of official measures of national well-being. It looked first at family and household formation, and then at individual aspects of these such as marriage and divorce. Source : Ian Macrory, Measuring National Well-Being: Households and Families, 2012 , Office for National Statistics Links : Report

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A paper presented estimates of the impact of the minimum wage on the wage growth of low-wage employees. Estimates of the probability of low-wage employees receiving positive wage growth had been significantly increased by the minimum wage upratings. However, whether the actual wage growth of these workers had been significantly raised or not depended crucially on the magnitude of the minimum wage increase considered. Findings were consistent with employers complying with the legally binding minimum wage but holding down or offsetting the wage growth that they might have awarded in periods of relatively low minimum wage increases. Source : Joanna Swaffield, Minimum Wage Hikes and the Wage Growth of Low-Wage Workers , Discussion Paper 12/10, Department of Economics and Related Studies, University of York Links : Paper

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

An article said that religious groups saw the coalition government's 'Big Society' agenda as an opportunity to reverse a long-term process of waning social influence and to reshape the role of faith in the public sphere. In the way of these objectives being achieved, however, were a number of serious problems, including the existing economic and political situation, the particular characteristics of faith groups themselves, and general attitudes towards religion in public life. Given the importance attached to the participation of faith-based organizations in the Big Society project, these issues had significant implications both for the future role of religion in the public sphere and for the unfolding of the programme itself. Source : Steven Kettell, 'Religion and the Big Society: a match made in heaven?', Policy Politics, Volume 40 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the children's residential care sector in Scotland. Source : Graham Connelly and Ian Milligan, Residential Child Care: Between home and family , Dunedin Academic Press (Publication date: October 2012) Links : Summary

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-26T23:00:00Z

An article examined the views of older adults who were receiving health and social care at the end of their lives on how services should be funded, and described their health-related expenditure. There was a gap between the health and social care system that older adults expected and what might be provided by a reformed welfare state at a time of financial stringencies. Participants expressed a belief in an earned entitlement to services funded from taxation, based on a broad sense of being a good citizen. Irrespective of social background, older people felt that those who could afford to pay for social care should do so. Sale of assets and use of children's inheritance to fund care was widely perceived as an injustice. The costs of living with illness were a burden, and families were filling many of the gaps left by welfare provision. People who had worked in low-wage occupations were most concerned to justify their acceptance of services, and distance themselves from what they described as welfare 'spongers' or 'layabouts.' Source : Barbara Hanratty, Elizabeth Lowson, Louise Holmes, Gunn Grande, Julia Addington-Hall, Sheila Payne, and Jane Seymour, 'Funding health and social services for older people a qualitative study of care recipients in the last year of life', Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine , Online first publication Links : Article | RSM press release

2012-04-26T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

The children's rights watchdog in Northern Ireland published two reports that examined the impact of forthcoming welfare reform proposals (by the United Kingdom coalition government) on children in Northern Ireland, and the potential for the Northern Ireland Executive to adapt them in order to protect children's best interests. The watchdog said that child poverty could increase if the planned changes were pushed through the Northern Ireland Assembly. Children were particularly vulnerable to poverty and were unable themselves to influence their economic circumstances. The inequalities already experienced by many children in living in poverty could worsen considerably as a result of the welfare reform legislation, if action were not taken. Source : Goretti Horgan and Marina Monteith , A Child Rights Impact Assessment of the Impact of Welfare Reform on Children in Northern Ireland , Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People | Barry Fitzpatrick and Noreen Burrows , An Examination of Parity Principles in Welfare and Wider Social Policy , Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Links : Report (1) | Report (2) | NICCY press release | BBC report

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article examined, using EU-SILC data for 24 European countries, how income inequality was related to civic and social participation. The results indicated that the main effects of inequality manifested themselves in resources at the individual and societal level. However, independent of these resources, higher inequality was associated with lower civic participation. Furthermore, inequality magnified the relationship between income and participation. This finding was in line with the view that inter-individual processes explained why inequality diminished participation. Source : Bram Lancee and Herman van de Werfhorst, 'Income inequality and participation: a comparison of 24 European countries', Social Science Research , Online first publication Links : Abstract Notes : EU-SILC = European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

A survey by an all-party group of MPs found that fathers who separated from their wives or partners often faced a difficult transition that involved increased risk of unemployment, absence from work through sickness, and declining mental health. Source : Ross Jones, Adrienne Burgess, and Vahsti Hale , 'The Fathers' Journey': A survey of help-seeking behaviour by separating and recently separated fathers , All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fatherhood Links : Report | Fatherhood Institute press release

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

A new book examined the recent emergence of a 'right to security' in the criminal law. It set out from a detailed analysis of the law of the anti-social behaviour order and of the coalition government's proposed replacement for it. It showed that the liabilities contained in both sought to protect a 'freedom from fear', and that this 'right to security' explained many other recently enacted criminal offences. It identified the normative source of this right to security in the idea of 'vulnerable autonomy', and considered the influence of this idea on the policy of both the Labour (1997-2010) and coalition governments. It concluded that repressive criminal laws had arisen from a deficit of political authority rather than from excessive authoritarianism. Source : Peter Ramsay, The Insecurity State: Vulnerable autonomy and the right to security in the criminal law , Oxford University Press Links : Summary

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An audit report said that the Home Office had made good progress in improving its financial management since 2009. But the Department would need to achieve further savings of 1.1 billion a year by 2014-15 and one-third of this sum remained uncertain. Source : Financial Management in the Home Office , HC 1832 (Session 2010-2012), National Audit Office, TSO Links : Report | NAO press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

A paper examined different family size preferences in European countries and their link with actual fertility. It was found that around 30 per cent of women and men ended their reproductive career with fewer children than they had previously considered ideal, and that the difference between their mean ideal and actual family size was around 0.3 children. The people who were most optimistic about both their own life and their country's socio-economic situation were, on the one hand, childless persons and, on the other, those who had or would like to have large families with three or more children. This result, which contained an intrinsic contradiction, needed to be studied more thoroughly in further research. Source : Maria Rita Testa, Family Sizes in Europe: Evidence from the 2011 Eurobarometer Survey , European Demographic Research Papers 2-2012, Vienna Institute of Demography Links : Paper

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

A paper examined research evidence concerning the relationship between the psycho-social work environment, employee health, and organizational production. There was limited evidence that psycho-social work factors and employee health were predictors of production loss. The evidence was clearest with regard to job strain and musculo-skeletal pain. Although there was some evidence for the impact of psycho-social work factors and the health of employees on self-rated performance, there was no evidence for any specific factors or health problems. The research still suffered from the fact that there were only few and low-quality studies: longitudinal studies were needed. Source : Christina Bjorklund, Irene Jensen, and Malin Lohela Karlsson, The Relationship Between Psychosocial Work Factors, Employee Health and Organisational Production: A systematic review , Working Paper 2012:8, Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy (Uppsala, Sweden) Links : Paper

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article examined patterns of public support related to childcare costs for low-income working families in industrialized countries. It identified four types of policy strategies ('conservative', 'limited', 'average', and 'universal'), suggesting differentiated social citizenship opportunities based on place of residence. It highlighted how a complex policy environment contributed to unintended consequences, as the 'working poor' were exposed to childcare and employment instability. Future research should consider how the policy environment contributed to material well-being in families during the life course. Source : Lucy Porter Jordan, Abstract

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

A briefing paper said that older workers were an important part of the workforce of modern societies, and that their numbers would increase in coming decades. Better health and life expectancy of older workers improved their opportunities to enhance an age-friendly society. However, a good working life was an important prerequisite for older workers to remain active and to ensure that society benefited from their strengths and talents. Investments in active ageing needed to be secured during the working years, including investments in occupational health and safety. Source : Juhani Ilmarinen, Promoting Active Ageing in the Workplace , European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Links : Briefing

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article drew on the Luxembourg Income Study to examine child poverty across a diverse group of countries, as of 2004-2006. It synthesized past LIS-based research on child poverty, focusing on studies that aimed to explain cross-national variation in child poverty rates. It then looked at child poverty in 20 high- and middle-income countries. It assessed poverty among all households and among those with children, and using multiple poverty measures (relative and absolute, pre- and post-taxes and transfers). It investigated the effects of factors such as family structure, educational attainment, and labour market attachment considering how the effects of these factors varied across counties. It then analyzed the extent to which cross-national variation in child poverty was explained by families' characteristics and/or by the effects of (or returns to) those characteristics. Source : Janet Gornick and Markus Jantti, 'Child poverty in cross-national perspective: Lessons from the Luxembourg Income Study', Children and Youth Services Review , Volume 34 Issue 3 Links : Abstract

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the factors that determined the attractiveness of regions in Europe for migrants. Contrary to the literature on the United States of America that had increasingly focused on the role of amenities, research in Europe had tended to highlight the predominance of economic conditions as the main drivers of migration. Differentiating between economic, socio-demographic and amenity-related territorial features, the authors examined the appeal of various regional characteristics for migrants by analyzing net migration data for 133 European regions between 1990 and 2006. It was found that, in addition to economic, human capital-related, and demographic aspects, network effects and in contrast to existing literature different types of regional amenities exerted an important influence on the relative attractiveness of sub-national territories across the European Union. Locational choices in Europe might be much more similar to place-based preferences in the USA than originally thought. Source : Andres Rodriguez-Pose and Tobias Ketterer, Do Local Amenities Affect the Appeal of Regions in Europe for Migrants? , Working Paper 2012/04, IMDEA Social Sciences Institute (Madrid) Links : Paper

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

A study (for an official advisory body) examined evidence on the relationship between aspects of spatial planning, the built environment, health, and health inequalities. It said that it was vital that planners, developers, and design professionals were aware of the health equity impact of their work and pro-actively addressed environmental disadvantage through their practice. The main components for addressing health inequalities through spatial planning were: addressing the gradient in environmental disadvantage; establishing a benchmark for area assessment analysis that included an equity component; and addressing the elements of the built environment that affected health across the social gradient according to an area's needs. Source : Ilaria Geddes, Jessica Allen, Matilda Allen, and Lucy Morrisey , The Marmot Review: Implications for Spatial Planning , National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Links : Report

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article examined some of the key assumptions underpinning the continued development of family doctor-led commissioning in health services. It questioned the assumption that family doctors were best placed to commission health services in a way that met quality standards and led to equitable outcomes. There was little evidence to suggest that family doctors would succeed where others had failed; and there was a risk that, without top-down performance management, service improvement would be patchy leading to greater, not reduced, inequity. Source : Kate Gridley, Gemma Spiers, Fiona Aspinal, Sylvia Bernard, Karl Atkin, and Gillian Parker, 'Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS', Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, Volume 17 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article examined the external and internal governance of National Health Service foundation trusts (FTs), which enjoyed increased autonomy. It was found that it was easier to increase autonomy for public hospitals than to increase local accountability. Hospital managers were likely to be interested in making decisions with less central government control, whereas mechanisms for local accountability were 'notoriously difficult' to design and operate. Source : Pauline Allen, Justin Keen, John Wright, Paul Dempster, Jean Townsend, Andrew Hutchings, Andrew Street, and Rossella Verzulli, 'Investigating the governance of autonomous public hospitals in England: multi-site case study of NHS foundation trusts', Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, Volume 17 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on a disability strategy for the years 2012-2015 Source : A Strategy to Improve the Lives of Disabled People 2012-2015 , Northern Ireland Executive Links : Consultation document | Disability Action press release

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

The Supreme Court ruled against a former equity partner in a firm of solicitors, who had brought an age discrimination case against his firm for making him retire at the age of 65. It said that the retiring of partners was a 'legitimate business aim' so that younger solicitors at the firm could take up their places in the partnership and so that the firm could retain talented lawyers who might otherwise move elsewhere to gain promotion. Compulsory retirement was 'a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'. However, the Court remitted the case back to the employment tribunal to decide whether choosing the age of 65 for retirement was proportionate, since there was no evidential basis for assuming that performance would drop off at that age. Source : Seldon v Clarkson Wright and Jakes (A Partnership) , UKSC 16 (2012), United Kingdom Supreme Court Links : Judgement | CBI press release | EHRC press release | Guardian report

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article examined the role of a 'creative underclass' in transforming the character of a local area in London (Camden Town). The area was a mature cultural quarter with a contradictory mix of affluent middle-class and homeless people; counter-cultural groups and tourists; participants in the night-time economy and shopkeepers.. The patterns of cultural production and consumption in the area were complicated and had deep historical roots. Source : Galina Gornostaev and Noel Campbell, 'The creative underclass in the production of place: example of Camden Town In London', Journal of Urban Affairs , Volume 34 Issue 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article said that European Union health policy exemplified the philosophical tension between economic freedoms and social policy. EU competition law, like other internal market rules, could restrict national health policy options despite the subsidiarity principle. In particular, European health system reforms that incorporated elements of market competition might trigger the application of competition rules if non-economic gains in consumer welfare were not adequately accounted for. The authors drew on a sample of cases to analyze how the European Court of Justice, national courts, and national competition authorities had applied competition laws to the health services sector in different circumstances and in different ways. It concluded by considering the implications of the convergence of recent trends in competition law enforcement and health system market reforms. Source : Elias Mossialos and Julia Lear, 'Balancing economic freedom against social policy principles: EC competition law and national health systems', Health Policy , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-25T23:00:00Z

An article examined whether women who had children in unions married, and if so, at what stage in family formation (based on a study of 11 European countries). It also explored whether women who conceived when cohabiting were more likely to marry or separate. It was found that patterns of union formation and childbearing developed along different trajectories across countries. In all countries, however, less than 40 per cent of women remained in cohabitation up to 3 years after the first birth, suggesting that marriage remained the predominant institution for raising children. Source : Brienna Perelli-Harris, Michaela Kreyenfeld, Wendy Sigle-Rushton, Renske Keizer, Trude Lappegard, Aiva Jasilioniene, Caroline Berghammer, and Paola Di Giulio, 'Changes in union status during the transition to parenthood in eleven European countries, 1970s to early 2000s', Population Studies , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-25T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the effects of labour market institutions on unemployment in 19 developed (OECD) countries for the period 1960-2000, allowing for heterogeneous effects of institutions on unemployment. It was found that, on average, unemployment was increased in the presence of tighter employment protection, a higher tax burden on labour income, and a more generous unemployment insurance system whereas a higher centralization of wage negotiations decreased unemployment. The strength of the effects differed considerably between countries. Source : Horst Rottmann and Gebhard Flaig, Labour Market Institutions and Unemployment: An international comparison , Discussion Paper 31, University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden (Germany) Links : Paper

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A report offered an overview of the case law regarding fundamental rights over 2010 and 2011 from the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. It identified the main trends and fields of conflict, focusing on the role played by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. It also considered the nature and intensity of cross-references between the Courts. Source : Alejandro Saiz Arnaiz and Aida Torres Perez, Main Trends in the Recent Case Law of the EU Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights in the Field of Fundamental Rights , European Parliament Links : Report

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A new book provided an in-depth evaluation of the European Union Directive on race (adopted in 2000) and its effects. Source : Erica Howard, The EU Race Directive: Developing the protection against racial discrimination within the EU , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A report examined the benefits of improving the emotional and psychological well-being of patients with long-term conditions. An estimated 30 per cent of people with a long-term condition also had a mental health problem. Co-morbid mental health problems were a major cost driver in the care of long-term conditions, accounting for a 45-75 per cent increase in service costs. Service models that addressed the full range of patient needs had been shown to improve patient outcomes and lead to cost savings that far outweighed the cost of the psychological interventions. Source : Long-Term Health Gains: Investing in emotional and psychological wellbeing for patients with long-term conditions and medically unexplained symptoms , NHS Confederation Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

An inspectorate report in Northern Ireland called for the introduction of a witness charter. Many people who were the victims of, or witnesses to, crimes found that the criminal justice process was stressful and fear-inducing. Special measures were of vital importance in helping vulnerable and intimidated witnesses to give their best evidence. Source : The Use of Special Measures in the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland , Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Links : Report | CJINI press release

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the implications for retirement income of the coalition government's policies to extend working lives. The vast majority of people aged over 50 who were working in 2011 around 85 per cent might have sufficient state and private pension income to provide a retirement income of 11,000 per annum if they continued to work and save until they were eligible to receive their state pension. But 45 per cent of them might have to work and save for more than 10 years after state pension age in order to replicate their working-life living standards in retirement. Source : Daniela Silcock, Daniel Redwood, and Chris Curry, Retirement Income and Assets: The implications for retirement income of government policies to extend working lives , Pensions Policy Institute Links : Paper | PPI press release | Telegraph report

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A report examined how policy-makers, local authority commissioners, and service providers could improve access to services by black and minority-ethnic disabled people. Source : Robert Trotter, Over-Looked Communities, Over-Due Change: How services can better support BME disabled people , Scope Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A new book provided an introduction to the processes and methods of planning and conducting survey research. Source : Lesley Andres, Designing and Doing Survey Research , SAGE Publications Links : Summary

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the unionization of migrant workers. The obstacles behind migrant workers' unionization were considered within a 'triple-challenge' model reflecting factors such as migrant workers' disproportionate location in less unionized companies. Source : Surhan Cam, Non-Unionised Migrant Workers: Evidence from the UK Labour Force Survey for a triple-challenge model , Working Paper 149, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University Links : Paper

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A study examined the business structures, processes, and pressures that might drive or facilitate the use of forced labour in the United Kingdom; considered policies that might be used in response to these; and made recommendations to the business community, government, trade unions, and migrant community organizations designed to help reduce exploitation and forced labour. Source : Mumtaz Lalani and Hilary Metcalf, Forced Labour in the UK: The Business Angle , Joseph Rowntree Foundation Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A report provided an overview of the various ways in which public service broadcasting was structured and funded, and of the extent to which its output was distinctive, of high quality, and capable of making a difference. It said that public service broadcasting enjoyed far ruder health than the 'declinist' narrative suggested. Source : Chris Hanretty, Public Service Broadcasting's Continued Rude Health , British Academy Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-24T23:00:00Z

A new book examined trends and models of employee consultation in the European Union and United Kingdom, together with their effect on practice. Source : Mark Hall and John Purcell, Consultation at Work: Regulation and practice , Oxford University Press (Publication date: October 2012) Links : Summary

2012-04-24T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A paper said that the focusing of the coalition government's social justice strategy on 120,000 'troubled' families was 'deeply flawed'. The figure was a 'factoid' that was being used to support policies that in no way followed from the research on which the figure was based. The paper documented the way the government had misused research into families with multiple disadvantages, using it to blame them for a wide range of social problems. The term 'troubled families' discursively collapsed 'families with troubles' and 'troublesome families', while simultaneously implying that they were dysfunctional as families. This discursive strategy was successful in feeding vindictive attitudes to the poor. Source : Ruth Levitas, There May Be 'Trouble' Ahead: What we know about those 120,000 'troubled families' , Working Paper 3, Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK Links : Paper | Summary

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A survey found that children's centres had a key role in empowering communities to meet their own needs. They provided a 'space' in areas of social deprivation for children, young people, and their families to reflect on their own mental health and well-being without judgement. All children's centres were located in areas of high deprivation and were well placed to meet the needs of the communities. Recent investment had ensured that there were sites (often purpose-built buildings) located in areas of need. Instead of wasting this valuable resource, there was an opportunity to use it to deliver early interventions by people who understood local needs. However, the quality of actual early intervention programmes varied widely: although every centre surveyed was involved in delivering programmes, only 13 per cent of these programmes were evidence-based. Source : Louise Jackson, Securing Standards, Sustaining Success: Report on early intervention , National Education Trust Links : Report | Nursery World report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A report said that the existing criminal law on the most common form of child abuse neglect failed to protect children and needed to be urgently updated. Convictions for child neglect were unlikely unless physical harm had came to a child, which was defined by law as an individual event such as an injury, rather than cumulative harm where there was no specific and serious single event. But neglect could have some of the worst and most long-term effects on a child's brain, physical development, behaviour, educational achievement, and emotional well-being: this needed to be recognized in law. Source : Keeping Children Safe: The case for reforming the law on child neglect , Action for Children Links : Report | Action for Children press release | BBC report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A paper estimated the implicit disability costs faced by older people, using data on over 8,000 individuals from the Family Resources Survey. Disability costs were strongly related to the severity of disability and to income, and at an average level of almost 100 per week among over-65s with significant disability they typically far exceeded the value of any state disability benefits received. Source : Marcello Morciano, Ruth Hancock, and Stephen Pudney, Disability Costs and Equivalence Scales in the Older Population , Working Paper 2012-09, Institute for Social and Economic Research (University of Essex) Links : Working paper | Abstract

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A newspaper report said that at least 19 of the 24 'free' schools opened under the coalition government had taken a lower proportion of pupils with eligibility for free school meals than would be expected for an equivalent state-funded school in the same local authority. Source : The Guardian , 23 April 2012 Links : Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A report said that early childhood education and care was receiving increased policy interest in England, as improving quality in the sector was a subject of growing importance. Co-operation between the sector, parents, and the community could contribute to providing a more continuous child development process. Parental and community engagement could also strengthen the quality of parenting and the home-learning environment. Additionally, it could enhance children's early development and mitigate the negative effects of family background. The continuity of children's experiences across different environments was greatly enhanced when early childhood education and care centres co-operated with parents and communities and adopted consistent approaches to child development and learning. Source : Quality Matters in Early Childhood Education and Care: United Kingdom (England) 2012 , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Links : Report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A new book examined concerns in relation to the conditions of labour markets, production organizations, working conditions, and industrial and employment relations in Europe. Prominent among these concerns were the crisis in trade unions and in democratic labour market institutions, and the displacement of democratic practices by technocratic administrative powers. The contributors looked at aspects of the search for socio-cultural innovation in the area of work including participatory democratic practices, citizenship, social cohesion, and wider participation in education and training, as well as with cultural interests in identity, solidarity, and non-market values. Source : Francesco Garibaldo, Mirella Baglioni, Catherine Casey, and Voker Telljohann (eds.), Workers, Citizens, Governance: Socio-cultural innovation at work , Peter Lang Links : Summary

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

An article said that global economic crisis of 2007-08 had been sparked primarily by mismanagement of capital markets through speculation and excessive risk-taking by very highly paid men (predominantly) in the financial centres of the western world: but the underlying causes were deeply rooted in the neo-liberal model of global development itself. Neo-liberalism was associated with unsustainable increases in earnings inequalities, and a related imbalance between productivity and wages, resulting in a fall in the share of output accruing to labour. These inequalities formed a key element in generating the crisis. Source : Diane Perrons, ' Global financial crisis, earnings inequalities and gender: towards a more sustainable model of development', Comparative Sociology, Volume 11 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A paper said that Roma inclusion strategies in Europe had thus far produced limited results in terms of actually improving the situation of Roma, in part due to a lack of multi-sector and integrated approaches. Political and bureaucratic inertia need to be challenged. Narrow national interests should not prevent the European Union from establishing effective policy-making mechanisms. Policy-makers needed to adopt a holistic and coherent approach to other relevant policy areas for successful Roma inclusion strategies, with appropriate co-ordination and implementation mechanisms. Source : Roma Inclusion: A progressive and rights-based approach , European Network Against Racism Links : Paper

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs said that it had 'little confidence' that the coalition government's policies were informed by a clear, coherent, strategic approach. The government was failing to co-ordinate and reconcile priorities, to ensure that long-term and short-term goals were coherent across departments. Policy decisions were made for short-term reasons, little reflecting the longer-term interests of the nation. The MPs called on the government to publish an annual 'Statement of National Strategy' in Parliament, reflecting the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom and the devolved policy agendas. Source : Strategic Thinking in Government: Without national strategy, can viable government strategy emerge? , Twenty Fourth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1625, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | BBC report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs raised 'substantial concerns' over whether the coalition government would be able to save the 2.6 billion that it had claimed could be found by reducing the number of quangos and other public bodies. The government's savings target was based on incomplete and imprecise estimates of the costs incurred in axing the 262 bodies. Source : Reorganising Central Government Bodies , Seventy-seventh Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1802, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | BBC report | Public Finance report | Telegraph report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that the growth of social media posed a dilemma for security and law enforcement agencies. On the one hand, social media could provide a new form of intelligence that could contribute decisively to keeping the public safe. On the other, national security was dependent on public understanding and support for the measures being taken. Analysis of social media for intelligence purposes did not fit easily into the policy and legal frameworks that guaranteed that such activity was proportionate, necessary, and accountable. Social media should become a permanent part of the intelligence framework: but it needed to be based on a publicly argued, legal footing, with clarity and transparency over use, storage, purpose, regulation, and accountability. Source : David Omand, Jamie Bartlett, and Carl Miller, #Intelligence , Demos Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A report by a joint committee of MPs and peers said that a reformed House of Lords should have an electoral mandate provided that it had commensurate powers. A more assertive House would not enhance Parliament's overall role in relation to the activities of the executive. Any overall strengthening of Parliament would therefore have to be subject to a defined understanding of the relationship between the Commons and the reformed House and of any conventions governing that relationship. Source : Draft House of Lords Reform Bill , Report (Session 2010-12), HC 284 and HL 1313, Joint Select Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill, TSO Links : Report | Oral and associated written evidence | Other written evidence | Labour Party press release | Guardian report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

The coalition government set out the strategic objectives for the new National Health Service Commissioning Board Authority. The objectives related to: transferring power to local organizations; establishing the commissioning landscape; developing specific commissioning and financial management capabilities; and developing excellent relationships. Source : Letter 23 April 2012, Department of Health Links : Letter | DH press release

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

An article said that, compared with the rest of the country, quality-of-life outcomes in deprived neighbourhoods in England had not improved significantly despite 30 years of policy-based intervention. Over the previous decade, in particular, the importance of involving communities in regenerating their neighbourhoods creating sustainable places where people positively chose to live had been at the heart of policy. However, the realities of delivering community-led regeneration had proved complex, and the benefits difficult to capture in terms aligned to the requirements of evidence-based policy-making. Despite this, failure to engage communities made sustainable regeneration challenging and less likely to result in positive outcomes. Through a case study, the authors offered evidence of the crucial nature of community engagement in providing the building blocks for sustainable neighbourhood regeneration. Source : David Jarvis, Nigel Berkeley, and Kevin Broughton, 'Evidencing the impact of community engagement in neighbourhood regeneration: the case of Canley, Coventry', Community Development Journal, Volume 47 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

The coalition government published new fiscal rules designed to allow departmental spending to be more closely monitored by the Treasury. Departments would in future need to monitor and share spending information with the Treasury on a monthly basis. They would also be required to have a plan for around 5 per cent of their budgets to be 're-prioritized' if new spending pressures emerged. Source : Improving Spending Control , HM Treasury Links : Report | Hansard | HMT press release | IFG press release | Public Finance report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A report examined the key issues facing the social worker profession over the following 3-5 years, including: future requirements; existing and forecast supply; and specific measures for social worker workforce planning. There was a potential oversupply of newly qualified social workers due to a preference that posts were filled with experienced social workers. There was a decline in demand for adult social workers, but an increase in demand for non-professionally qualified workers. Children's social workers remained on the shortage occupation list. Source : Workforce Risks and Opportunities: Social Workers , Centre for Workforce Intelligence Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

An article examined the 'limited conceptual focus' of community development activity. It said that community development workers needed to equip themselves with a broader theoretical understanding of the world, using ideas drawn from 'theories of everyday life'. Source : Rod Purcell, 'Community development and everyday life', Community Development Journal, Volume 47 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

An article reported on a qualitative study of one social enterprise, a community café, and its contribution to building social capital in a disadvantaged urban area in London. The analysis revealed how the café built 'bonding' and 'bridging' social capital, although also addressing 'downside' social capital. Overall, the manager of the social enterprise played a considerable role in facilitating the development of social capital, emphasizing the importance of individuals and their attitudes, skills, and background in urban regeneration. However, the role of the social enterprise in building 'linking' social capital was minor. In this instance, more effective mechanisms of community engagement needed to be put in place in order to empower local residents and organizations. Source : Marcello Bertotti, Angela Harden, Adrian Renton, and Kevin Sheridan, 'The contribution of a social enterprise to the building of social capital in a disadvantaged urban area of London', Community Development Journal, Volume 47 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

The Welsh Government published the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Bill, designed to strengthen school standards and reduce complexity and bureaucracy in the education system. Proposals in the Bill would: Reform the statutory process for school organization so that decisions were taken locally wherever possible. Give local authorities and schools greater flexibility over the pricing of school meals. Mainstream several grant-funded programmes to help streamline existing processes. Source : School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Bill , Welsh Government Links : Bill | Explanatory notes | Welsh Government press release | WLGA press release

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that the Welsh Government should conduct an evaluation of its national housing strategy, to ensure that it was still fit for purpose, given the significant changes in the political, economic, and financial climate since it had first been published. Source : Inquiry Into the Provision of Affordable Housing in Wales , Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee, National Assembly for Wales Links : Report

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

A new book examined (in four volumes) the relationship between gender, crime, and criminal victimization. Source : Sandra Walklate (ed.), Gender and Crime , Routledge (Publication date: June 2012) Links : Summary

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-23T23:00:00Z

An article examined subjective well-being for people in Europe with chronic disabilities, using data from the European Social Survey. People with disabilities were in a disadvantaged position in terms of subjective well-being in all countries. In the northern countries, the gaps between disabled and non-disabled people were smaller than in eastern countries. In all countries inequality in subjective well-being was explained mostly by personal resources and not by the level of disability, socio-economic status, or level of participation in work. Source : Cretien van Campen and Marc van Santvoort, 'Explaining low subjective well-being of persons with disabilities in Europe: the impact of disability, personal resources, participation and socio-economic status', Social Indicators Research , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-23T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

A think-tank pamphlet examined how a public instinct for fairness could be harnessed in order to tackle the challenge of climate change. People were prepared to act to change their behaviour and consume more sustainably: but this was dependent on the co-operation of others. The public might not like the idea of having to make lifestyle changes: but they were prepared to do so once they understand the broader social issues at stake. Politicians needed to recognize this and set a credible policy framework that could foster a shared sense of environmental citizenship, rather than attempting to sell polices by appealing to consumer self-interest. Source : Tom Crompton, Lord Deben, Huw Irranca-Davies, Caroline Lucas, Ben Page, and Baroness Worthington, The Fairness Instinct: How we can harness public opinion to save the environment , Fabian Society Links : Pamphlet | Summary

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

An article examined the persistent exclusion of women from organizational power and leadership in trade unions, in spite of their increasing proportion of the labour force and of trade union membership. Trade unions had in many cases put in place extensive structural reforms to encourage gender equality: but in practice these had not resulted in gender proportionality in formal positions in unions. At a more profound level, cultures of exclusionary masculinity were strongly embedded especially in traditional unions and among traditional male leaderships. However, there was also increasing evidence of changing attitudes among younger and more diverse workers (men as well as women) whose experiences of precarious work aligned with those of women juggling family responsibilities and part-time insecure work. Source : Sue Ledwith, 'Gender politics in trade unions: the representation of women between exclusion and inclusion', Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research , Volume 18 Number 2 Links : Abstract

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report examined modern British identity and sources of national pride. It considered the extent to which people identified themselves as being English, Welsh, and Scottish, as well as British; whether ethnicity and parentage mattered more or less than the more civic ideals of contributing to society and a sense of national identity; and what made the English, Scottish, and Welsh proud of their nations, and why these sources of pride were important. Source : Andrew Gimson, Rachael Jolley, Sunder Katwala, Peter Kellner, Alex Massie, and Richard Miranda, This Sceptred Isle: Pride not prejudice across the nations of Britain , British Future Links : Report

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

An article examined the transitions made by pupils between state-funded primary and secondary schools in London in 2008, with a view to establishing which secondary schools recruited from the same feeder primary schools and which might be said to be competing. Evidence was found of higher- and lower-attaining pupils separating from each other, with the former more likely to be enrolled in selective schools and also some types of faith school. The separations were evident between locally competing schools, but with no evidence that they had been worsening over the period 2003-2008. This highlighted the paradox of promoting school choice within a system that imposed geographical constraints upon it, and that might simply reinforce existing social divisions. Source : Richard Harris, 'Geographies of transition and the separation of lower and higher attaining pupils in the move from primary to secondary school in London', Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

An article examined issues of equity and efficiency in the housing benefit system in the private rented sector in England. It was unclear whether the existing system enabled housing benefit recipients to consume more housing than was available to otherwise similar households not receiving housing benefit. The rules on eligible property size appeared not to unduly favour housing benefit claimants compared with low-income working households. The latter, however, tended to pay a rent that was less than the maximum amount a housing benefit recipient could receive. This was particularly true for low-income working families with children, who were most likely to be living in properties smaller than allowed by benefit regulations. Second, there was no evidence that the housing benefit system incentivized low-income working households to give up work or otherwise seek to become eligible for housing benefit. Source : Bruce Walker and Pat Niner, 'Welfare or work? Low-income working households' housing consumption in the private rented sector in England', Housing Studies, Volume 27 Number 3 Links : Abstract

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

An article examined the problem of how to define local housing needs in rural areas in England. Local communities often felt that 'official' priorities did not reflect the true nature of local need something that supported the coalition government's localism agenda, a component of which was the empowerment of parish councils to deliver additional homes for 'local need', above planned allocations. However, although community perspectives might became vital in driving future policy outcomes, there were associated risks. In particular, a dominant minority might draw narrow definitions of localness and local interest as a means of closing the door to unwanted development. Source : Nick Gallent and Steve Robinson, 'Community perspectives on localness and priority housing policies in rural England', Housing Studies, Volume 27 Number 3 Links : Abstract

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

A report said that black undergraduates believed that there was deep-rooted institutional racism in the market for both government jobs and the major professions. This perception had contributed to lower employment outcomes among recent black graduates than their white counterparts. The report called for the government to develop a coherent strategy to tackle inequality of opportunity within higher education and graduate employment. Source : Kofo Sanusi (with Paul MacDonald, Hana Mosavie, and Kanika Mayi), Race to the Top: The experience of black students in higher education , Bow Group Links : Report | Bow Group press release

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-22T23:00:00Z

A new book examined what it meant to be disadvantaged, whether it was possible to compare different disadvantages, and what governments should do to move their societies in the direction of equality where equality was to be understood both in distributional and social terms. It presented a pluralist analysis of disadvantage that emphasized risk and insecurity as a central component. Disadvantage 'clustered', in the sense that some people were disadvantaged in several different respects: identifying the least advantaged was therefore not as problematic as it appeared to be. The authors considered how to decluster disadvantage, by paying special attention to 'corrosive disadvantages' (those that caused further disadvantages) and 'fertile functionings' (those that were likely to secure other functionings). Source : Jonathan Wolff and Avner de-Shalit, Disadvantage , Oxford University Press (Publication date: December 2012) Links : Summary

2012-04-22T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

A paper examined and compared material deprivation in households in five European countries (Czech Republic, Finland, France, Spain, and United Kingdom), drawing on EU-SILC data. The highest share of materially deprived households was found in the UK over one-fifth of all households in 2010 making it the only country in the sample above the European Union mean. 27.5 per cent of economically weak households in the UK lived in areas with a high crime rate and vandalism: on the other hand, no measurable proportion (0 per cent) of economically weak households in the UK lacked a bath or shower and indoor toilet. Source : Jana Stavkova, Nada Birciakova, and Jana Turcinkova, Material Deprivation in Selected EU Countries According to EU SILC Income Statistics , Working Papers in Business and Economics 19/2012, Mendel University (Brno, Czech Republic) Links : Paper Notes : EU-SILC = European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

A report examined the challenge posed to the pensions system by an ageing population, a society 'habitually dependent' on debt, low savings rates, and high numbers of people with little or no pension provision. It made a series of proposals to address the crisis: raising the state retirement age to 70 sooner than planned, in phases by 2044; providing a single, flat-rate, universal, basic state pension, and abolishing means-tested retirement income benefits such as pension credit; radically reforming and simplifying the pension architecture; and developing a formal government savings policy. Source : Malcolm Small, Roadmap for Retirement Reform , Institute of Directors Links : Report | IOD press release

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

A briefing paper examined cuts in housing benefit introduced or planned by the coalition government. It said that the cuts would adversely affect some of the most disadvantaged groups in society, and are likely to lead to an increase in homelessness. Source : Housing Benefit Cuts , Crisis Links : Briefing

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

A new book provided a critical response to the coalition government's 'Big Society' agenda and its impact on society. It set out a critique of the barriers to social participation across racial, class, and gender divides; and offered social policy solutions for the creation of a less divided and more inclusive society. Source : Madeline-Sophie Abbas and Ratna Lachman (eds.), The Big Society: The Big Divide , Jeremy Mills Publishing Links : Summary

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

A paper examined ways in which social enterprises could increase their scale and social impact, using case studies from the early years sector. It looked at options ranging from maximizing impact internally (through new activities, and more sites) to growth beyond the confines of the organization (through social franchises, use of kite marks, training, and networks). The research highlighted the fact that expanding a social enterprise was not the only way to increase its impact. Source : Fergus Lyon and Heather Fernandez, Scaling up Social Enterprise: Strategies taken from early years providers , Working Paper 79, Third Sector Research Centre Links : Paper | TSRC press release

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

A new book examined how gender inequalities in contemporary societies were changing, and how further changes towards greater gender equality might be achieved. The focus of the book was on inequalities in production and reproductive activities, as played out over time and in specific contexts. It examined the different forms that gendered lives took in the household and the workplace, and explored how gender equalities might be promoted in a changing world. It considered not only the causes of gender inequalities but also the ongoing implications for economic well-being and societal integration. Source : Jacqueline Scott, Shirley Dex, and Anke Plagnol (eds.), Gendered Lives: Gender inequalities in production and reproduction , Edward Elgar Publishing (Publication date: May 2012) Links : Summary

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

A new book examined a wide range of conceptual and practical issues relating to health policy across the world. Individual chapters explored ways of measuring access to health care in Europe; the health and social care divide in the United Kingdom; barriers and opportunities for private long-term care insurance in England; and the implications of historical trends in mortality for health policies in England and Wales. Source : Alistair McGuire and Joan Costa-Font (eds.), The LSE Companion to Health Policy , Edward Elgar Publishing (Publication date: July 2012) Links : Summary

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-20T23:00:00Z

An article examined the time use of employed and unemployed people in 14 European countries. It focused on characterizing and modelling job search intensity, measured by the amount of time devoted to searching for a new job. Job search intensity varied considerably across countries, and was higher in countries that had higher wage dispersion. The authors also examined the relationship between unemployment benefits and job search. Source : Alan Krueger and Andreas Mueller, 'The lot of the unemployed: a time use perspective', Journal of the European Economic Association , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-20T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A new book said that much of society's thinking in relation to children's behaviour was linked to misplaced assumptions rooted in views from the past. Morality was not something that just happened to children: it was part of their everyday lives. The author highlighted the extent to which children engaged with questions of morality as they sought to navigate the complexities of the social world around them. Children should be seen as active members of society, with both the capacity and understanding to grapple with discourses of morality. Source : Sam Frankel, Children, Morality and Society , Palgrave Macmillan Links : Summary

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A study found that independent social work reports added considerable value in complex family cases, and led to better decision-making for children challenging the perception that the reports caused delay and duplicated local authority work. It found that the reports provided mostly high quality, transparent, forensic, and evidenced-based assessments. Source : Julia Brophy, Charlie Owen, Judith Sidaway, and Jagbir Jhutti Johal, The Contribution of Experts in Care Proceedings: Evaluation of independent social work reports in care proceedings , CISWA-UK (Confederation of Independent Social Work Agencies) Links : Report | Summary | CISWA press release | Community Care report

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A paper examined worker mobility in the enlarged (post 2007) European Union. Fears about free mobility had proved to be unjustified: no significant detrimental effects on the receiving countries' labour markets had been documented, nor had there been any discernible 'welfare shopping'. Rather, there appeared to have been positive effects on EU productivity. The sending countries faced some risks of losing their young and skilled labour force: but free labour mobility had relieved them of some redundant labour and the associated fiscal burden. They had also profited from remittances. Source : Martin Kahanec, Labor Mobility in an Enlarged European Union , Discussion Paper 6485, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn) Links : Paper

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article examined the educational situation of young people in Europe with experience of being placed in foster or residential care. Barriers to continued education after compulsory school were found on both individual and family level as well as in relation to national policies and welfare regimes pointing to low expectations from both professionals and carers. Young people from a public care background often lacked the chance to acquire sufficient cultural and social capital, and so chose other pathways. Source : Helena Johansson and Ingrid Hojer, 'Education for disadvantaged groups structural and individual challenges', Children and Youth Services Review , Volume 34 Issue 6 Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article examined evidence from a European Union-funded project designed to find out how more care-leavers could be encouraged to stay in school longer and enabled to access further and higher education. If children and young people in care were to enjoy equal opportunities with their peers, a much stronger focus was needed in all countries on their formal and informal education throughout their time in care and beyond. With low level educational qualifications or none, they were severely disadvantaged in the labour market, especially at a time of high youth unemployment. In addition, their lack of family support and weak social networks put them at great risk of social exclusion in adulthood. Targeted measures to promote social mobility via participation in higher levels of education should be an explicit aim of welfare authorities. Source : Sonia Jackson and Claire Cameron, 'Leaving care: looking ahead and aiming higher', Children and Youth Services Review , Volume 34 Issue 6 Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A new book provided a cross-national and cross-sectoral study of care work in Europe, covering policy, provision, and practice, as well as exploring how care work was conceptualized and understood. It considered possible future directions, including the option of a generic professional worker, educated to work across the life course; and whether 'care' would, or should, remain a distinct field of policy and employment. Source : Claire Cameron and Peter Moss, Care Work in Europe: Current understandings and future directions , Routledge Links : Summary

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the science performance of children (aged 15) of immigrants living in 16 developed (OECD) countries of destination. It considered macro-level factors such as the impact of educational systems and political, economic, and religious features of both countries of origin and destination. Immigrants from countries with an eastern religious affiliation performed better than immigrants from Christian countries, and immigrants from Islamic countries performed worse. Source : Jaap Dronkers and Manon de Heus, The Educational Performance of Children of Immigrants in Sixteen OECD Countries , Discussion Paper 10/12, Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (University College London) Links : Paper

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A new book examined new understandings and contemporary experiences of 'dirty work' tasks or roles that were seen to be disgusting or degrading. It focused on the gender and racial dimensions of such work, including nursing, sex work, and women's magazines. It investigated the ways in which such work was experienced, and the variety of strategies drawn on as 'dirty' workers sought to manage their identity. Source : Ruth Simpson, Natasha Slutskaya, Patricia Lewis, and Heather Hopfl (eds.), Dirty Work: Concepts and identities , Palgrave Macmillan Links : Summary

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A report for the equal rights watchdog said that out of the nearly 12,000 applications to the European Court of Human Rights brought against the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2010, the vast majority had fallen at the first hurdle. Only 3 per cent (390 applications) had been declared admissible, and only 1.8 per cent (215) had eventually resulted in a judgment finding a violation. The latest figures for 2011 showed a rate of defeat of just 0.5 per cent, or 1 in 200. Although judgments against the UK had been relatively few in number, a significant proportion had involved basic civil liberties such as the right to a fair trial around 8 per cent of judgments related to the right to life, and the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. Source : Alice Donald, Jane Gordon, and Philip Leach, The UK and the European Court of Human Rights , Research Report 83, Equality and Human Rights Commission Links : Report | EHRC press release

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A report said that young homeless people experienced significantly poorer health than their peers, were more likely to use emergency health services, and faced considerable barriers in accessing the care they needed. Source : Making It Matter: Improving the health of young homeless people , Depaul UK/AstraZeneca Links : Report | Depaul UK press release | Inside Housing report

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A new book said that the field of mental health was undergoing a considerable 'paradigm shift' in terms of rethinking core issues including the capacity for social inclusion, and the meaning of empowerment and recovery from mental illness. It considered how to enable service providers, users, carers, and the general public to be open to the possibilities that this shift could lead to, and to actively participate in the process of change. Source : Peter Ryan, Shula Ramon, and Tim Greacen (eds.) , Empowerment, Lifelong Learning and Recovery in Mental Health: Towards a new paradigm , Palgrave Macmillan Links : Summary

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article examined the development of affirmative action and equality policies targeted at the two main ethno-national communities in Northern Ireland, as an example of 'contextualized equality'. Source : Colin Harvey, 'Contextualised equality and the politics of legal mobilisation: affirmative action in Northern Ireland', Social and Legal Studies, Volume 21 Number 1 Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A report examined the experiences of a wide range of countries in the use of private finance in public service provision. A chapter on the United Kingdom said that private finance could deliver considerable benefits for the provision of public infrastructure in appropriate conditions: but that it could be difficult to establish with confidence any value for money in the investment appraisal. Making private finance the only option for public procurement could lead to 'rampant strategic misrepresentation' and, hence, the private funding of inappropriate projects with inevitable consequences later on. Private finance could only ever be one of a number of procurement options for public infrastructure. Source : Graham Winch, Masamitsu Onishi, and Sandra Schmidt (eds.), Taking Stock of PPP and PFI Around the World , Research Report 126, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Links : Report | Telegraph report

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A study found that a greater ethnic diversity of school populations in secondary education hampered the educational performance of students with an immigrant background, but did not significantly affect that of native students. The socio-cultural diversity of schools had no effect on educational performance, although the average parental socio-cultural status did. A higher share of students of non-Islamic Asian origin in a school increased the educational performance of both native and immigrant students of other origins in that school. Students originating from Islamic countries had substantially lower language scores than did equivalent students with an immigrant background from other regions: this could not be explained by individual socio-economic backgrounds, school characteristics, or educational systems. Source : Jaap Dronkers and Rolf van der Velden, Positive But Also Negative Effects of Ethnic Diversity in Schools on Educational Performance? An empirical test using PISA data , Discussion Paper 11/12, Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (University College London) Links : Paper

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on border controls. It said that the new 'Border Force', announced subsequently in February 2012, had been constituted as a separate operational command within the Home Office in order to ensure a clearer line to Ministers on its mandate increased management focus on border security and compliance as well as transparency. Source : UK Border Controls: The Government Response to the Seventeenth Report from the Home Affairs Committee , Cm 8341, Home Office, TSO Links : Response Notes : MPs report (January 2012)

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A report said that the personalization agenda in social care encouraged innovation, offering the potential to create new markets around localized and individual needs, to focus fiscal resources directly and discretely, and to enable small groups of individuals to 'positively disrupt' a complex and opaque system. But the success of the personalization agenda in future would depend upon answering fundamental questions about the nature of future supply and demand for public services. This meant exploring what the role of families, communities, and collaborative groups could be in designing and providing support and creating inclusive communities. It meant defining what was needed to catalyze and sustain a much broader market of services that would take personalization to the next level. Source : Alex Fox, Personalisation: Lessons from Social Care , 2020 Public Services Hub Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A report said that 'social productivity' could provide a helpful framework for considering how to construct sustainable social care services for older people. These services had never fallen squarely within the Beveridge-derived welfare model the range of needs described under the heading of 'social care' remained too diverse, too social, and too intimate to sit neatly within a welfare model that was entirely publicly provided and publicly funded, even if financial resources were more plentiful. A 'Big Society' analysis was strong in recognizing the innately social aspect of social care,: but weak when it came to considering the implications for public policy. This was where social productivity might be more valuable as an operating framework for social care reform and innovation. Source : Sally-Marie Bamford and Craig Berry, Long Term Care for Older People, Social Productivity and the 'Big Society': The case of dementia , 2020 Public Services Hub Links : Report | Summary Notes : 'Social productivity' refers to public services that act as social catalysts – supporting and nurturing communities, and delivering public services in partnership with the people that needed them.

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article reported the findings of an evaluation of the impacts and outcomes for carers of individual budgets (IBs). Despite their primary aim of increasing choice and control for the service user, IBs had also had a positive impact on carers of IB holders. This had important implications for the widespread roll-out of personal budgets in England, and might also provide wider valuable lessons about the tensions between policies to support carers and policies aimed at promoting choice and control by disabled and older people. Source : Nicola Moran, Hilary Arksey, Caroline Glendinning, Karen Jones, Ann Netten, and Parvaneh Rabiee, 'Personalisation and carers: Whose rights? Whose benefits?', British Journal of Social Work , Volume 42 Number 3 Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A report called for central government departments to develop a more coherent overall approach to the needs of care leavers. Departments should make a commitment to 'care-proof' all government policies by assessing the impact that they would have on looked-after children, care leavers, and those who supported them. Source : Access All Areas: Action for all government departments to support young people's journey from care to adulthood , Catch22 Links : Report | Catch22 press release

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

A report said that work experience was under-utilized as a way of stretching the career horizons of young people the problem was that one-half of all placements were found by young people or by their families using largely existing social networks. Source : Anthony Mann, Work Experience: Impact and Delivery Insights from the evidence , Education and Employers Taskforce Links : Report | ASCL press release | Barnardos press release | BBC report

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article examined young people's participation in decisions that affected them, drawing on three research and evaluation projects that were undertaken in partnership with young people as researchers. Source : Jennie Fleming, 'Young people's participation where next?', Children Society , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article examined the distributional effects of shifts from public to private pension provision in 15 European countries for the period 1995-2007. No evidence was found that shifts from public to private pension provision had led to higher levels of income inequality or poverty among older people. Source : Olaf van Vliet, Jim Been, Koen Caminada, and Kees Goudswaard, 'Pension reform and income inequality among older people in 15 European countries', International Journal of Social Welfare , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article examined spoken interaction in semi-structured qualitative research interviews, comparing those conducted by telephone with those conducted face-to-face. Source : Annie Irvine, Paul Drew, and Roy Sainsbury, ' Am I not answering your questions properly? : clarification, adequacy and responsiveness in semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews', Qualitative Research , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-19T23:00:00Z

An article examined the limits of law to resolve or transform the dilemmas provoked by the provision of social care to adults. It juxtaposed the judgments in two cases, in 2002 and 2007, concerning the mixed economy of care. Source : Helen Carr and Caroline Hunter, 'Are judicial approaches to adult social care at a dead-end?', Social and Legal Studies , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-19T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

A report said that about one-third of school-aged children in England who were living in poverty were not entitled to receive free school meals around 700,000. Although entitled, a further 500,000 did not take up their meals. This meant that more than half (around 1.2 million) of all school-aged children living in poverty did not receive free school meals. The main reason for lack of entitlement was the fact that their parents were in work. The report called on the government to ensure that all children in poverty were entitled to receive free school meals, and to promote work incentives by extending entitlement to school children in families in receipt of universal credit. All local authorities and school providers should introduce cashless systems in order to de-stigmatize the receipt of free school meals. The government should review the extent to which maintained schools and academies were adhering to the nutritional standards for school food, and whether secondary school pupils who took up free school meals were receiving enough to buy a full and nutritious meal, with a range of choices available within budget. Source : Sam Royston, Laura Rodrigues, and David Hounsell, Fair and Square: A policy report on the future of free school meals , Children's Society Links : Report | Childrens Society press release | BBC report | Guardian report

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

The European Commission proposed a package of measures aimed at boosting employment growth. It urged member states to strengthen their national employment policies. In particular it urged support for hiring subsidies that created new jobs, a (budget-neutral) tax shift from labour to environmental taxes, and support for self-employment. It also called for measures to exploit the potential for employment growth in the 'green' economy. Source : Towards a Job-Rich Recovery , European Commission Links : Statement | European Commission press release | EC guide | ETUC press release

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

A paper examined income dispersion in European countries. Towards the end of the 2000s the income distribution in Europe was more unequal than in the average developed (OECD) country, albeit notably less so than in the United States. It was the within-country, not the between-country dimension, that appeared to be most important. Inequality in Europe had risen quite substantially since the mid-1980s. Although the European Union enlargement process had contributed to this, it was not the only explanation, since inequality had also increased within a 'core' of 8 European countries. Large income gains among the 10 per cent top earners appeared to be a main driver behind this evolution. Source : Kaja Bonesmo Fredriksen, Income Inequality in the European Union , Economics Department Working Paper 952, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Links : Paper

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

An audit report said that the coalition government needed a better understanding of costs, benefits, and use in order to assess whether its policy of greater transparency of public information was meeting the objectives of increasing accountability, supporting service improvement, and stimulating economic growth. Source : Implementing Transparency , HC 1833 (Session 2010-2012), National Audit Office, TSO Links : Report | NAO press release

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

A study found that there had been a 'dramatic' increase in waiting times for surgical procedures by acute National Health Service trusts in England, and a decline in the number of operations being carried out. It said that the figures cast serious doubt on claims by the NHS that waiting times were falling, and highlighted the need for more transparency about waiting times in individual clinical areas. Source : The Waiting Game , Patients Association Links : Report | Patients Association press release | Labour Party press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

A briefing paper examined the policy context around tackling homelessness and addressing the mental health needs of homeless people. There was a strong link between homelessness and poor mental health, with high rates of mental health problems and substance misuse among the homeless population. Access to mental health services for homeless people could be improved through improving staff awareness and delivering services differently including use of non-clinical settings as well as through effective joint working with partner agencies. Source : Mental Health and Homelessness: Planning and delivering mental health services for homeless people , NHS Confederation Links : Briefing | NHS Confederation press release | Guardian report

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

A report examined the origins of minority legal orders in the United Kingdom. It explored the advantages and disadvantages of the practical ways in which the state could respond to and work with minority legal orders, and identified the gaps in the research around them. It said that liberal democracies had a responsibility to consider the rights and needs of those from minority groups who wanted to make legal decisions in tune with their culture and beliefs: they also had a responsibility to protect those 'minorities within minorities' who were vulnerable to pressure to comply with the norms of their social group. Source : Maleiha Malik, Minority Legal Orders in the UK: Minorities, pluralism and the law , British Academy Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

A paper examined the employment conditions of east-central European ('A8') migrants in the United Kingdom, and the influence of policy and legislative issues on how this source of labour was recruited and employed. Source : David McCollum and Allan Findlay, East-Central European Migration to the UK: Policy issues and employment circumstances from the perspective of employers and recruitment agencies , Working Paper 20, Centre for Population Change Links : Paper

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report described a new tool designed to measure the social value of corporate sponsorship. Source : Max Wind-Cowie and Claudia Wood, Measuring Up: The social value of sponsorship , Demos Links : Report | Summary

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-18T23:00:00Z

An article examined the extent to which individual social capital was associated with self-rated health, and mediated the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health. Generalized trust, participation with friends and relatives, and having network members from the salariat class were found to be positively associated with self-rated health. Having network members from the working class was, however, negatively related to self-rated health. Moreover, these social capital elements partly mediated the negative relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health. Source : Verhaeghe Pieter-Paul and Gindo Tampubolon, 'Individual social capital, neighbourhood deprivation, and self-rated health in England', Social Science Medicine , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-18T23:00:00Z 2012-04-17T23:00:00Z

A report provided an updated general overview of the transposition of European Union gender equality law in the 27 EU member states and certain other European countries. Source : Sacha Prechal and Susanne Burri (updated by Susanne Burri and Hanneke van Eijken), Gender Equality Law in 33 European Countries: Update 2011 , European Network of Legal Experts in the Non-Discrimination Field (European Commission) Links : Report

2012-04-17T23:00:00Z 2012-04-17T23:00:00Z

The Northern Ireland Executive launched its first-ever strategy for social work, aimed at strengthening support for frontline social workers and improving social work services. Key recommendations included: development of a regional social work out-of-hours service; introduction of extended/flexible hours; strengthening integrated and partnership approaches in practice; and improving employer support for frontline staff. Source : Improving and Safeguarding Social Wellbeing: A Strategy for social work in Northern Ireland 2012-2022 , Northern Ireland Executive Links : Strategy | NIE press release | NIASW press release

2012-04-17T23:00:00Z 2012-04-17T23:00:00Z

The government released data on the average rate of income tax paid by people with annual incomes of 100,000 or more. The figures (for 2010-11) showed that the proportion of those paying a tax rate of less than 10 per cent (compared with the 40 per cent nominally due) actually increased in relation to the income band - 6 per cent among those with incomes of over 10 million, compared with just 1 per cent of those with incomes of 100-150,000. Source : Figures released by HM Treasury, 16 April 2012 Links : Guardian report | Telegraph report | TUC press release | Paul Lewis blog post Notes : The figures were contained in a briefing issued by Treasury press staff but not published on the official website.

2012-04-17T23:00:00Z 2012-04-17T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs analyzed the 2012 Budget measures. It said that: The government's latest proposals for 'reform' of child benefit solved only one of the two main problems identified with its original policy, and added further complexity. The government should consider whether there are any measures that should be taken to mitigate the redistributional effects of quantitative easing, in particular the losses incurred by people taking out pension annuities in a climate of very low interest rates. Source : Budget 2012 , Thirtieth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1910, House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | Guardian report

2012-04-17T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

A report examined levels of happiness in each country of the world. The happiest countries were all in northern Europe (Denmark, Norway, Finland, Netherlands). Happier countries tend to be richer countries. But more important for happiness than income were social factors such as the strength of social support, the absence of corruption, and the degree of personal freedom. Over time as living standards had risen, happiness had increased in some countries but not in others (for example, the United States). Unemployment causes as much unhappiness as bereavement or separation. At work, job security and good relationships did more for job satisfaction than high pay and convenient hours. Source : World Happiness Report , Earth Institute Links : Report | Earth Institute press release

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

The Finance (No. 4) Bill was given a second reading. The Bill was designed to implement measures contained in the 2012 Budget statement. Source : Finance (No. 4) Bill , HM Treasury, TSO | Debate 16 April 2012, columns 27-136, House of Commons Hansard , TSO Links : Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

A report by a committee of MPs said that greater clarity and consistency were needed to ensure that watchdogs could properly monitor public services decentralized by the government to bodies such as foundation trusts, free schools, and elected police authorities. Source : Accountability for Public Money Progress Report , Seventy-ninth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1503, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO Links : Report | BBC report

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

Researchers examined issues involved in decommissioning in public services. Decommissioning was more often prompted by short-term crisis a sudden change in financial circumstance or in response to poor performance than by a search for ways to deliver more effective public outcomes. But truly transformational public innovation required creative decommissioning actively challenging incumbent service models and mindsets, and investing in new approaches. As public resources became increasingly precious, creative decommissioning would become a critical capability for public services. Source : Laura Bunt and Charlie Leadbeater, The Art of Exit: Decommissioning in public services , National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts Links : Report

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

A new book provided an empirical study of the idea (first advanced by Albert Hirschman) that making it easier for people to opt out of publicly provided services, such as health or education, would reduce 'voice', taking the richest and most articulate consumers away and leading to the deterioration of public services. Source : Keith Dowding and Peter John, Exits, Voices and Social Investment: Citizens' reaction to public services , Cambridge University Press Links : Summary

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that local government needed to seize a new role as social venture capitalists to unblock stalled developments and seed-fund new jobs. It urged councils to collaborate in setting up 'revolving investment funds' that sought a commercial return from investments driving local economic growth. By combining their borrowing power, councils could raise vitally needed finance to help make up the over 4 billion drop in regional development funding since the election of the coalition government in 2010. Source : Joe Manning and Daria Kuznetsova, Grow Your Own: Skills and infrastructure for local economic growth , New Local Government Network Links : Summary

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

The final report of an independent commission examined how female offenders were dealt with by the criminal justice system in Scotland, and set out a series of measures to help reverse the continued rise in the female prison population (which had doubled in the previous decade). Source : Commission on Women Offenders , Scottish Government Links : Report | Scottish Government press release

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

A think-tank report said that the planned increase in the national minimum wage for 2012 would leave it lower than it had been in 2004 in real terms, and 6 per cent below its 2009 peak. After sharp increases in the 2000s, the value of the minimum wage had flat-lined at just over 50 per cent of median earnings. The United Kingdom rate sat in the middle of the pack internationally, lagging France and New Zealand where the minimum was closer to 60 per cent of median earnings. There was overwhelming evidence that the minimum wage had reduced wage inequality without damaging employment, and the time had come to consider options for future reform to ensure maximum impact without risking job losses. These included: introducing a higher rate for workers aged over 25 or 30; introducing a higher rate for London and the south east region; and asking the Low Pay Commission to publish an estimate of the minimum wage that big companies in different sectors could afford, raising pressure to pay more than the legal minimum. Source : Alan Manning, Minimum Wage: Maximum Impact , Resolution Foundation Links : Report | Resolution press release

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

A study found that young people who had taken part in a government-backed work experience placement were more likely to get off benefits and into work. The first 3,490 young people who took part in the placements were 16 per cent more likely to be off benefits 21 weeks after starting than those in a similar group who had not taken part. Source : Early Impacts of Work Experience , Department for Work and Pensions Links : Report | DWP press release

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

An article examined the concept of fluctuating or recurring impairments (such as chronic fatigue syndrome). Contention still surrounded the perceived legitimacy of such impairments compared with more 'traditional' and accepted forms of disability. Source : Vic Boyd, 'Are some disabilities more equal than others? Conceptualising fluctuating or recurring impairments within contemporary legislation and practice', Disability Society , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

An article drew on research in Scotland to examine the growing gap between the spheres of paid employment and social care for people with learning disabilities. Narrow and outcome-focused employability and supported employment programmes increasingly selected only the most able; and social care was ever more restricted to those in most need with the result that an expanding number of people with learning disabilities were occupying an in-between sphere where the opportunities for work or care were limited. 'Local area co-ordinators' in Scotland providing personal support and 'brokerage' to facilitate access to employment and other 'work' experiences could potentially bridge the gap. Source : Edward Hall and Sarah McGarrol, 'Bridging the gap between employment and social care for people with learning disabilities: local area co-ordination and in-between spaces of social inclusion', Geoforum , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

An article examined the employment relationship within capitalist societies by reference to a model of work alienation, and considered whether alienation led to emotional exhaustion and stifled well-being. Data from 227 employees in a manufacturing organization supported the model, in that a lack of voice, person-job fit, and meaningfulness led to alienation at work, emotional exhaustion, and lower levels of well-being. Source : Amanda Shantz, Kerstin Alfes, and Catherine Truss, 'Alienation from work: Marxist ideologies and twenty-first-century practice', International Journal of Human Resource Management , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-16T23:00:00Z

An article said that the development of European Union asylum and migration policy had often been explained as the result of 'venue-shopping' that is, the move by policy-makers to an European policy venue in order to avoid national constraints. It said that, contrary to what would have been expected on the basis of this widespread view, EU co-operation on asylum matters had actually led to a rise in the legal standards applicable to asylum-seekers and refugees. This outcome could be mainly explained by broader changes that had gradually affected the EU 'system of venues' and had thereby decreased the likelihood of more restrictive measures being adopted in the EU asylum policy venue. This had important implications for the EU governance of asylum and migration in general. Source : Christian Kaunert and Sarah Leonard, 'The development of the EU asylum policy: venue-shopping in perspective', Journal of European Public Policy , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-16T23:00:00Z 2012-04-15T23:00:00Z

An article examined whether, beneath the rhetoric, any form of real patient choice was endorsed either in law or in National Health Service policy. It explored the case law on 'consent', looked at choice within the National Health Service, and highlighted the dilemmas that a mismatch of language and practice posed for clinicians. Given the variance in interpretation and lack of consistency for the individual patient, a semantic change was needed that avoided the use of 'choice', focusing instead on the options for treatment that were available and accessible, with due acknowledgement of individual patient preferences, without raising unfettered and false expectations. Source : Ingrid Whiteman, 'The fallacy of choice in the common law and NHS policy', Health Care Analysis , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-15T23:00:00Z 2012-04-15T23:00:00Z

An article offered an alternative paradigm to healthcare delivery by introducing the concept of mutuality and empowerment into the existing health-wealth model (against the background of Scottish Government health policy). It examined what was meant by mutuality, public interest, and community empowerment, and introduced a model that linked them together. Source : Brian Howieson, 'Mutuality, empowerment and the health-wealth model: the Scottish context', Health Care Analysis , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-15T23:00:00Z 2012-04-15T23:00:00Z

An article examined the regulation of abortion and IVF treatment services. The regulatory burden borne by IVF services was greater than in the case of abortion: but none of the explanatory theses could provide a justification of this phenomenon. The authors offered an alternative explanation based on factors including regulatory 'overspill'. Source : Sebastian Sethe and Alison Murdoch, 'Comparing the burden: what can we learn by comparing regulatory frameworks in abortion and fertility services?', Health Care Analysis , Online first publication Links : Abstract

2012-04-15T23:00:00Z 2012-04-15T23:00:00Z

An article examined the legitimacy of the restrictions on assisted suicide in England. It said that guidelines prohibiting organizations that assisted suicides left some people without the help that they needed. Although legislative decriminalization of assisted suicide and the establishment of state-sponsored suicide centres would represent the most permissive regime, this would be a 'step too far'. Decriminalization should be combined with a robust regulatory regime. Source : Christoph Rehmann-Sutter and Lynn Hagger, 'Organised assistance to suicide in England?', Health Care Analysis , Online first publication Links : Abstract

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An article examined the influence of being disabled on poverty dynamics in European countries. The results showed that the long-term ('persistence') effect was three times as great as the short-term ('true state dependence') effect. Source : Carmen Delia Davila Quintana and Miguel Malo, 'Poverty dynamics and disability: an empirical exercise using the European Community Household Panel', Journal of Socio-Economics , Online first publication Links : Abstract

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An article examined the associations between deprivation and rates of childhood overweight and obesity in England, from 2007 to 2010. Childhood obesity rates in England were found to be strongly associated with deprivation. Given the enormous public health implications of overweight and obesity in the population, a significant effort was required to tackle unhealthy weight in children in all local authorities, and this should be a priority in areas with high levels of deprivation. Source : David Conrad and Simon Capewell, 'Associations between deprivation and rates of childhood overweight and obesity in England, 2007-2010: An ecological study', British Medical Journal Open, Volume 2 Issue 2 Links : Article

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A report said that the relationship between the police and the public had been damaged by a 'target culture', combined with strict adherence to protocol, rank structure, and risk aversion. It recommended that there should be more institutional support for changing police culture including integrating a package into police training regarding self-development, aimed at enabling police officers to take more control over their own thinking and behaviour. Source : Jonathan Rowson and Emma Lindley, Reflexive Coppers: Adaptive challenges in policing , Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures Commerce Links : Report | ACPO press release | Telegraph report

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A collection of articles examined different aspects of research into the lives of disabled children and young people. Source : John Carpenter and Roy McConkey, 'Disabled children's voices: the nature and role of future empirical enquiry', Children Society , Volume 26 Number 3 | Bryony Beresford, 'Working on well-being: researchers' experiences of a participative approach to understanding the subjective well-being of disabled young people', Children Society , Volume 26 Number 3 | Janet Read, Clare Blackburn, and Nick Spencer, 'Disabled children and their families: a decade of policy change', Children Society , Volume 26 Number 3 | Eric Emerson, 'Understanding disabled childhoods: what can we learn from population-based studies?', Children Society , Volume 26 Number 3 | Nick Watson, 'Theorising the lives of disabled children: how can disability theory help?', Children Society , Volume 26 Number 3 | Kay Tisdall, 'The challenge and challenging of childhood studies? Learning from disability studies and research with disabled children', Children Society , Volume 26 Number 3 Links : Table of contents

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The coalition government's expert adviser on behaviour in schools in England called for a crackdown on primary school absence to make sure that it was not a problem later on in life. He called for the government to publish data on attendance in reception classes along with local and national averages; for primary schools to identify at an early stage those children who were developing a pattern of absence; and for primary schools to support parents in nursery and reception classes who were failing to get their children to school. He said that the parents of children who persistently truanted should have their child benefit cut. Source : Charlie Taylor (Government's Expert Adviser on Behaviour), Improving Attendance at School , Department for Education Links : Report | DE press release | ATL press release | Barnardos press release | Family Lives press release | Labour Party press release | NAHT press release | NUT press release | Voice press release | BBC report | Guardian report

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A paper mapped the labour law reforms in various European countries that had been triggered by the global economic crisis. Such reforms generally rendered existing labour law provisions more flexible and loosened minimum standards, shifting the emphasis to soft law (deregulation). The paper highlighted the lack of democratic foundations underlying the reforms, and their negative impact on fundamental social rights and workers' protection. Source : Isabelle Schomann and Stefan Clauwaert, The Crisis and National Labour Law Reforms: A mapping exercise , Working Paper 2012.04, European Trade Union Institute Links : Paper

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A paper examined the extent to which tax-benefit systems provided an automatic stabilization of income for those who became unemployed in Europe at the onset of the global economic recession. It provided evidence on the differing degrees of relative and absolute resilience of the household incomes of newly unemployed people. These arose from the variations in the protection offered by national tax-benefit systems (depending on entitlement or not to unemployment benefits), and from the personal and household circumstances of those most recently at risk of unemployment, Source : Fernandez Salgadid Marin, Francesco Figari, Holly Sutherland, and Alberto Tumino, Welfare Compensation for Unemployment in the Great Recession , EUROMOD Working Paper EM3/12, Institute for Social and Economic Research (University of Essex) Links : Working paper | Abstract

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An article critically examined the approach taken by the European Court of Justice regarding the application of the internal market principles (or market freedoms) to the field of healthcare services. Source : Danielle da Costa Leite Borges, 'European health systems and the internal market: reshaping ideology?', Health Care Analysis, Volume 19 Number 4 Links : Abstract

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A report highlighted the extent to which certain sections of society, particularly undocumented migrants, were excluded from healthcare systems in the European Union. Source : Access to Health Care for Vulnerable Groups in the European Union in 2012: An overview of the condition of persons excluded from healthcare systems in the EU , Doctors of the World (Medecins du Monde) Links : Report

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A paper examined the fiscal and distributional consequences of including home-owners' imputed rent, net of mortgage interest and maintenance costs, in taxable income, based on an analysis in six European countries. The results showed how including net imputed rent in the tax base might affect inequality in each of the countries considered. Housing taxation appeared to be a promising avenue for raising additional revenues, or lightening taxation of labour, with no inequality-increasing side-effects. Source : Francesco Figari, Alari Paulus, Holly Sutherland, Panos Tsakloglou, Gerlinde Verbist, and Francesca Zantomio, Taxing Home Ownership: Distributional effects of including net imputed rent in taxable income , EUROMOD Working Paper EM4/12, Institute for Social and Economic Research (University of Essex) Links : Working paper | Abstract

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An article examined whether the different powers and resources at the disposal of local and regional governments across Europe delivered greater satisfaction with political institutions and led to greater life satisfaction. Fiscal, and some forms of political, decentralization were found to have a positive and significant effect on the overall subjective well-being of individuals. However, fiscal decentralization had a different effect on the perception of institutions according to whether sub-national expenditure or revenues were considered. Similarly, the effect of political decentralization on the level of satisfaction with institutions also varied according to whether the capacity of local governments to influence national politics or to exert authority over their own citizens were considered. Source : Luis Diaz-Serrano and Andres Rodriguez-Pose, 'Decentralization, subjective well-being, and the perception of institutions', Kyklos: International Review for Social Sciences, Volume 65 Issue 2 Links : Abstract See also : Luis Diaz-Serrano and Andres Rodriguez-Pose, Decentralization, Happiness and the Perception of Institutions , Working Paper 2011/07, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies

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The report was published of an independent Commission that examined the experience of directly elected city mayors in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America. It said that mayors could save large sums of public money by rationalizing city-wide spending by public and private bodies. It also said the government should consider giving mayors wider powers over transport, welfare, and skills something that might require these powers to extend over a region, and not just a city. Source : , Elected Mayors and City Leadership , Warwick Commission (University of Warwick) Links : Report | Commission press release | Guardian report

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The interim report of an independent commission called for a much clearer focus on the northern region of England in economic policymaking. It said that the longstanding structural challenges facing the north were entrenched by systemic factors that inhibited its long-term growth potential, and it was not in the long-term interests of the United Kingdom as a whole for this situation to persist. Source : Northern Prosperity Is National Prosperity: NEFC interim report , Institute for Public Policy Research North/Northern Economic Futures Commission Links : Report | Guardian report

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A report introduced a new quarterly statistical release on the household sector, aimed at providing a household perspective on economic activity. It said that the financial crisis and subsequent recession had had a significant impact on households. Although household incomes had initially remained fairly buoyant, and growth appeared to have recovered somewhat, the economic conditions facing households remained tough. Expenditure during the recession had reacted as expected, with consumers cutting back on non-essential items. The recession had had a distinct impact on the balance sheets of household through falls in asset prices, low interest rates, and households' desire to repay debts. Source : Valerie Fender, Introducing the New Quarterly Household Release , Office for National Statistics Links : Report | First release (Q4 2011)

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A report examined the use of performance tables relating to leaving care. It identified a series of limitations of the official performance tables, including: being based on limited cohorts; measuring a small number of young people in each authority; problems with inaccuracies in the data; differences in reporting; specific issues with young people with additional support needs; and lack of comparative data. Source : Linda Briheim-Crookall, Does It Stack Up? Measuring performance in leaving care , National Care Advisory Service Links : Report | NCAS press release

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