Reducing inequality and poverty in Portugal

"Portugal has one of the most unequal income distributions in Europe and poverty levels are high. The economic crisis has halted a long-term gradual decline in both inequality and poverty and the number of poor households is rising, with children and youths being particularly affected. Unemploy...

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Main Authors: Arnold, Jens, Farinha Rodrigues, Carlos
Institution:ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
Format: TEXT
Language:English
Published: Paris 2015
OECD
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19100850124919280329-Reducing-inequality-and-povert.htm
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author Arnold, Jens
Farinha Rodrigues, Carlos
author_facet Arnold, Jens
Farinha Rodrigues, Carlos
collection Library items
description "Portugal has one of the most unequal income distributions in Europe and poverty levels are high. The economic crisis has halted a long-term gradual decline in both inequality and poverty and the number of poor households is rising, with children and youths being particularly affected. Unemployment is one of the principal reasons why household incomes declined. The tax and benefit system alleviates both inequality and poverty significantly. The tax system is markedly progressive, and recent tax reforms have likely increased this progressivity. Transfer payments, especially non-pension benefits, are reducing inequality and poverty in a fairly efficient way. Nonetheless, a number of adjustments could strengthen the equalising role of the benefit system, which is generally biased towards benefits for elderly people, while families with children should receive more support. The education system should provide more support to students at risk of falling behind to reduce grade-repetition and drop-out rates, while further increasing class sizes would be a reasonable way to generate savings without affecting learning progress much. Scaling up vocational courses and adult education, including in the context of active labour market policies, could improve the capacity of many households to generate income and lead to a more equitable income distribution."
format TEXT
geographic Portugal
id 19100850124919280329_c6f76b57c39747699e2268dedbb8e273
institution ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
is_hierarchy_id 19100850124919280329_c6f76b57c39747699e2268dedbb8e273
is_hierarchy_title Reducing inequality and poverty in Portugal
language English
physical 27 p.
Digital
publishDate 2015
publisher Paris
OECD
spellingShingle Arnold, Jens
Farinha Rodrigues, Carlos
economic recession
income distribution
poverty
social inequality
Reducing inequality and poverty in Portugal
thumbnail https://www.labourline.org/Image_prev.jpg?Archive=108944692612
title Reducing inequality and poverty in Portugal
topic economic recession
income distribution
poverty
social inequality
url https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19100850124919280329-Reducing-inequality-and-povert.htm