Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/91685 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
ISER Working Paper Series No. 2013-18
Publisher: 
University of Essex, Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), Colchester
Abstract: 
The poverty reduction potential of national social assistance programs in eight Central and Eastern European countries is examined using data from the EU-SILC. Results indicate that social assistance programs are a marginal component of the social protection system throughout the region. They serve small populations, spend relatively little compared to needs and the benefits they award are largely a top-up for their clients. However, the more extensive and liberal programs achieve higher effectiveness in reducing poverty. Unlike Western Europe, no trade-off between extensiveness and benefit generosity or between generosity and efficiency could be found. Decentralization and discretion are associated with inefficiency and arbitrariness in entitlement decisions rather than improved targeting.
Subjects: 
social assistance
redistribution
poverty
Central and Eastern Europe
JEL: 
D31
H23
I32
I38
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.