The best route out of poverty?

New study on in-work poverty and policy in the UK

From February 2016, Dr Rod Hick will be leading a new project on in-work poverty in the UK. Dr Hick, a Lecturer in Social Policy at the School of Social Sciences, has received funding from the Nuffield Foundation for the project.

The research will provide robust analysis of in-work poverty in the UK through quantitative analysis of the Family Resources Survey/Households Below Average Income and Understanding Society surveys.

Dr Hick said: “In-work poverty is becoming an increasingly important social issue in the UK. The numbers of working families affected suggests we need to move away from the premise that  work always provides an effective route out of poverty.

“I’m grateful to this funding from the Nuffield Foundation which will allow me to  examine the extent and nature of in-work poverty, the contribution made by policy – especially social security and tax credits – to alleviate it, and routes in and out of poverty for working families.

“Currently very little work has been published on in-work poverty transitions so I am hoping that this project will make an important contribution in this area.”

Dr Hick will use a range of poverty measures to assess the extent of in-work poverty, an innovative approach which goes beyond the exclusive focus on the 60% median income poverty measure. Importantly, this research will also identify a series of policy options with the potential to reduce poverty amongst working families.