Publications Measuring household income Explaining the differences between RHDI and HBAI 31 July 2026 by Amber Younis-Wood Living standards is one of the hottest political issues in the UK today. But when it comes to measuring household incomes, the choice of metric matters. Continue Reading
Comment Trimming the VAT Breathing space, off-target support and unfunded policies 21 July 2026 by Jonathan Marshall Jonny Marshall breaks down the upsides and limitations of the Burnham Government’s first new policy. Andy Burnham has promised to lead a ‘cost-of-living Government’, and the millions of households struggling… Continue Reading
Comment A clearer picture of household incomes – but no cause for complacency on poverty The latest Households Below Average Income release uses survey data linked to benefit administration records for the first time – but what does this mean for poverty rates? 27 March 2026 by Alex Clegg The Department for Work and Pensions has published its latest release of Households Below Average Income (HBAI), its flagship data source on household incomes and poverty. This release provides outturn figures for 2024–25. Our focus on the living standards of low and… Continue Reading
Publications The long shadow How childhood disadvantage depresses the earnings of university graduates in England 24 March 2026 by Julia Diniz and Richmond Egyei and Anna Stansbury and Greg Thwaites Childhood poverty casts a long shadow over graduates’ earnings. This briefing note shows that even after achieving the same grade from the same university and working for the same employer… Continue Reading
Publications No half measures Setting child poverty on a downward course at the Autumn Budget 30 October 2025 by Alex Clegg and Lindsay Judge The Government’s long-awaited Child Poverty Strategy is due next month, close to, or contemporaneous with, the Autumn Budget. There have been some welcome announcements already: the over-indexation of the Universal… Continue Reading
Publications Limited ambition? An assessment of the rumoured options for easing the two-child limit 12 May 2025 by Alex Clegg and Adam Corlett Abolishing the two-child limit would be the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty; if it is not scrapped, we project that 4.8 million children (34 per cent) will be… Continue Reading
Publications Turning the tide What it will take to reduce child poverty in the UK 26 February 2025 by Alex Clegg and Adam Corlett Ahead of the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy, which promises to bring about “an enduring reduction in child poverty”, this report looks at what might be needed to achieve this welcome… Continue Reading
Events Tackling the scourge of modern Britain The policies and investment needed to reduce child poverty Wednesday 26 February 2025 The new Government is currently preparing a child poverty strategy, and hoping to emulate the success of the last Labour government, which lifted over half a million children out of… Continue Reading
