The European Commission presented a new approach to ensure that the European Union responded better to the needs of small businesses. Henceforth it would seek wherever possible to exempt micro-enterprises from EU legislation or introduce special regimes so as to minimize the regulatory burden on them.
Source: Minimizing Regulatory Burden for SMEs: Adapting EU regulation to the needs of micro-enterprises, European Commission
Links: Report | European Commission press release | ETUC press release
Date: 2011-Dec
Researchers examined the social effects of employment developments across the European Union as a result of the global economic crisis. They considered what kinds of job had been lost, together with the impact on household incomes and on the numbers at risk of poverty.
Source: Terry Ward and Erhan Ozdemir, The Social Effects of Employment Developments Across the EU in the Crisis, Research Note 1/2011, Social Situation Observatory (European Commission)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
A think-tank report said that the opposition Labour party should avoid the political trap of offering a simple defence of the public sector and public spending, in the face of cuts imposed by the coalition government. The party should instead highlight the coalition's preference for regressive charging mechanisms to fund public services; it should offer the alternative of more progressive funding mechanisms, and develop new welfare policies that reduced economic insecurity by pooling risk.
Source: Gregg McClymont MP and Ben Jackson, Cameron?s Trap: Lessons for Labour from the 1930s and 1980s, Policy Network
Links: Report | Summary | BBC report
Date: 2011-Dec
A paper examined the trade union response to the European Commission consultation on the European Union 2020 strategy. It highlighted growing disenchantment with the strategy, as the neoliberal implications of European integration became 'increasingly unencumbered by any pretence at a social dimension'.
Source: Richard Hyman, Trade Unions, Lisbon and Europe 2020: From dream to nightmare, LEQS Paper 45/2011, London School of Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the first year of implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy for socially inclusive growth. The focus by governments on cutting social security benefits and services, wage reductions, and increases in tax would disproportionately affect the poorest groups in society – leading to further exclusion of people who already found themselves on the margins of society. The macro-economic approach underpinning the strategy failed to recognize the interdependence of economic development, social development, and environmental protection. There also needed to be better participatory structures in regard to the development of the National Reform programmes, and adequate time should be allocated for stakeholders to respond to and participate in debates.
Source: Europe 2020: Shadow Report, Caritas Europa
Links: Report | Caritas press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A new book called for a new economic model based on a strong role for the state in promoting the public good and a mixed economy – as opposed to the neoliberal theory that the market should be supreme.
Source: Richard Murphy, The Courageous State, Searching Finance
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Dec
Researchers examined the distributional effects of the measures that had been introduced following the 2007-08 financial crisis and subsequent economic downturn (up to mid-2011) in six European countries (including the United Kingdom).
Source: Tim Callan, Chrysa Leventi, Horacio levy, Manos Matsaganis, Alari Paulus, and Holly Sutherland, The Distributional Effects of Austerity Measures: A comparison of six EU countries, Research Note 2/2011, Social Situation Observatory (European Commission)
Links: Report | ISER press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A think-tank report called for the Labour party to embrace a policy of fiscal conservatism. The party's ability to advance social justice could go hand-in-hand with a clear, fiscally conservative stance. The vagueness of Labour's position over its plans for the budget deficit confirmed voters' worst suspicions about its lack of commitment to addressing the fiscal crisis.
Source: Graeme Cook, Adam Lent, Anthony Painter, and Hopi Sen, In the Black Labour: Why fiscal conservatism and social justice go hand-in-hand, Policy Network
Links: Paper | Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Dec
A think-tank report (written by a group of Conservative MPs) set out a series of recommendations for reviving economic growth. It included the suggestion that social security benefits should not be increased in line with the number of children in benefit-dependent households, and that the level of benefits should be varied between different localities.
Source: Harriett Baldwin MP, Karen Bradley MP, Charlie Elphicke MP, Chris Heaton Harris MP, Jo Johnson MP, and Claire Perry MP, Growth, Growth, Growth: New ideas for growth and prosperity in the 21st century, Centre for Policy Studies
Links: Report | CPS press release
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the coalition government's austerity programme, which sought to gain public support for welfare benefit cuts through appeals to frugality, self-sufficiency, and fiscal prudence. The reorientation of state assistance towards work, coupled with the proposed simplification of working-age benefits and tax credits, presented a particular challenge to the financial security and autonomy of women. It signalled the end of the process of modernizing the welfare system that was forged around the single-earner family model in the period of post-war austerity.
Source: Julie MacLeavy, 'A "new politics" of austerity, workfare and gender? The UK coalition government's welfare reform proposals', Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Volume 4 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A think-tank report sought to measure 'national progress' by asking people their opinion on matters of policy, rather than just inquiring about their subjective experience. Issues such as work-life balance, health, and housing were viewed by the public as critical components of 'good growth', on top of raw national income. The United Kingdom came almost bottom of a ranking of developed (OECD) countries when these issues were taken into account.
Source: John Hawksworth, Nick Jones, and Kitty Ussher, Good Growth, Demos
Date: 2011-Nov
The European Commission set out the European Union's priorities for 2012 in terms of economic and budgetary policies and reforms to boost growth and employment. An annex described the progress that had been made on the Europe 2020 targets: based on existing national targets, around 12 million people would be lifted out of poverty and social exclusion, short of the target of 20 million.
Source: Annual Growth Survey 2012, European Commission
Links: Report | Annex (Europe 2020) | Annex (employment) | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Nov
A paper said that social capital and national income were positively correlated across European countries, but negatively correlated over time. This paradoxical evidence was compatible with an explanation in terms of increasing economic inequality: in countries experiencing strong increases in inequality, trends of social capital were negatively correlated with economic growth. For countries where economic growth was accompanied by negative or modest increases in inequality, this relationship disappeared.
Source: Francesco Sarracino, Economic Growth and Social Capital: Happily together ever after?, Centre for Population, Poverty and Public Policy Studies (CEPS/INSTEAD)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Nov
The coalition government published its 2011 Autumn Statement on the economy and public finances. Economic growth would be significantly lower than previous expectations in 2012 and 2013. Unemployment was forecast to increase to 8.7 per cent in 2012, compared with 8.1 per cent in 2011. Public sector borrowing would be around £20-30 billion higher in every year between 2012-13 and 2015-16 compared with the 2011 Budget forecast. A planned £110 above-inflation increase to the child element of the child tax credit would be scrapped, and the couple and lone parent elements of the working tax credit would not be uprated in 2012-13 – leading to an increase of 100,000 children in poverty by 2012-13. The state pension age would be raised to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028 (rather than by 2036). Additional funding would allow free childcare places to be extended to 120,000 additional disadvantaged children aged 2. An extra £600 million would be provided to create a further 100 'free' schools, and £600 million would be given to areas with the greatest pressure on school places.
Source: Autumn Statement 2011, Cm 8231, HM Treasury, TSO
Links: Report | Hansard | HMT press release | DBIS/HMT press release | HOC research brief | Conservative Party press release | Green Party press release | Labour Party press release | Barnardos press release | CBI press release | Citizens Advice press release | CPAG press release | CSJ press release | ECP press release | EDCM press release | Fawcett Society press release | Institute for Government press release | IPPR briefing | NAPF press release | Scope press release | TUC press release | BBC report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Guardian report (3) | Guardian report (4) | Guardian report (5) | Professional Pensions report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Nov
A think-tank report said that the world's rich nations differed markedly in their success in ensuring that economic growth led to an improvement in living standards for people on low-to-middle incomes. The United Kingdom's overall policy orientation from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s seemed to have been comparatively effective in that respect. Future growth in living standards would not be automatic, but would depend heavily on decisions made by the government of the day.
Source: Lane Kenworthy, When Does Economic Growth Benefit People on Low to Middle Incomes – And Why?, Resolution Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Nov
A think-tank report called on the government to stimulate economic growth by weakening workplace rights and abolishing the higher rate of income tax.
Source: Andrew Haldenby, Patrick Nolan, Lucy Parsons, and Will Tanner, The Long Game: Increasing UK economic growth, Reform
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined the Europe 2020 strategy for socially inclusive growth. It said that national reform programmes (NRPs) should be framed in a manner that recognized the interdependence of economic development, social development, and environmental development. More participation was needed to develop the NRPs, especially in order to include and engage all stakeholders. The member states should also increase public debate in regard to the development of NRPs. A more comprehensive approach to monitoring the NRPs was required.
Source: Europe 2020 Shadow Report, Caritas Europa
Links: Report | Caritas press release
Date: 2011-Nov
A report by a committee of MPs said that the consumer protection system had failed to keep pace with the digital revolution, leaving people at risk of fraudulent traders.
Source: Protecting Consumers: The system for enforcing consumer law, Fifty-fourth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1468, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | BBC report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Nov
A think-tank report set out an alternative economic model to the coalition government's strategy of drastic public spending designed to eliminate the budget deficit within 5 years. Public spending cuts would be reversed until the economy was growing strongly. A new round of 'quantitative easing' (money created by the central bank) would be directed to a 'Green New Deal', to insulate and prepare large numbers of buildings to generate renewable energy. Some social security benefits would be increased for those on the lowest incomes; the tax system would be made more progressive; a 'living wage' would be increased across the public sector; excessive pay at the top of the labour market would be tackled; and employees would be given greater voice and influence in the workplace.
Source: Howard Reed and Neal Lawson (eds.), Plan B: A good economy for a good society, Compass
Links: Report | Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Oct
A think-tank report examined the relationship between economic growth and wages for workers on middle (median) wages over the previous 30 years in 10 major developed (OECD) countries. The United Kingdom was in a middle group where median pay had tracked economic growth for long periods, but had increased at less than one-half the rate of national income per capita in the previous decade.
Source: Jess Bailey, Joe Coward, and Matthew Whittaker, Painful Separation: An international study of the weakening relationship between economic growth and the pay of ordinary workers, Resolution Foundation
Date: 2011-Oct
A report said that the macro-economic approach being pursued by European Union countries – driven by EU economic governance rules, and focusing on stability and competitiveness – was failing to promote inclusive growth, threatened human rights, and was likely to generate increased poverty, exclusion, and inequality.
Source: Deliver Inclusive Growth – Put the heart back in Europe! EAPN analysis of the 2011 National Reform Programmes (NRPs) Europe 2020, European Anti-Poverty Network
Links: Report | EAPN press release
Date: 2011-Oct
An employers' organization called the coalition government to introduce a new tax incentive to encourage companies to take on young unemployed people, as part of a package of measures aimed at boosting employment.
Source: Action for Jobs – How to get the UK working, Confederation of British Industry
Links: Report | CBI press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Oct
A background paper examined the social impact in Europe of the global economic crisis, focusing on labour market issues.
Source: The Social Impact of the Crisis: Background paper, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
The European Commission published a new strategy on corporate social responsibility, designed to create conditions favourable to sustainable growth and employment generation in the medium and long term.. The Commission put forward a new, simpler definition of corporate social responsibility as 'the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society'.
Source: A Renewed EU Strategy 2011-14 for Corporate Social Responsibility, European Commission
Links: Strategy
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper examined the impact of unemployment on crime in Europe. Unemployment was found to be positively correlated with property crime.
Source: Duha Altindag, Crime and Unemployment: Evidence from Europe, Working Paper 2011-13, Department of Economics, Auburn University (Alabama, USA)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
A trade union report said that the living standards of a typical 'middle Britain' family would fall by more than £4,600 by 2013 – as a result of wages failing to keep up with inflation, tax and benefit changes, and cuts in public services.
Source: Unhappy Families: How ordinary people are paying the price for austerity, Trades Union Congress
Links: Report | TUC press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the impact of the global economic recession (2008-09) on people's lives at a regional level in England and Wales. Topics explored included: unemployment, jobs, migration, income, housing, education, and crime.
Source: Cecilia Campos, Alistair Dent, Robert Fry, and Alice Reid, Impact of the Recession, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
A study examined the effect of the global economic recession on household incomes in advanced (OECD) countries – including in-depth studies of 6 individual countries (Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America). Governments had been able to cushion households from the immediate effects of the recession by means of benefits and other social safety nets: but as they cut public spending and raised taxes to confront structural deficits, household incomes would be hit – for 5-10 years or even longer, depending on when economic growth returned.
Source: Stephen Jenkins, Andrea Brandolini, John Micklewright, and Brian Nolan, The Great Recession and the Distribution of Household Income, Fondazione Rodolfo Debenedetti (Milan)
Links: Report | UK chapter | FRDB press release | ISER press release | IFS press release | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Sep
A new book examined the effect of the global economic crisis on social policy in developed countries. 'The crisis' was better understood as a variety of crises, each mediated by national context. Consequently, there was an array of potential trajectories for welfare systems, from those where social policy was regarded as incompatible with the post-crisis economy to those where it was considered essential to future economic growth and security.
Source: Kevin Farnsworth and Zoe Irving (eds.), Social Policy in Challenging Times: Economic crisis and welfare systems, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Sep
A report reviewed national and international evidence on the rationale, impact, and effectiveness of government intervention to 'rebalance' the economy, sectorally and spatially. It considered the role of, and implications for, employment and skills policy in supporting the objectives of economic rebalancing.
Source: Simon Pringle, Geoff White, Rebecca Pates, Jonathan Cook, V Seth, Rachel Beaven, John Tomaney, Pedro Marques, and Anne Green, Rebalancing the Economy Sectorally and Spatially: An evidence review, UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
A think-tank briefing examined 10 options for introducing European Union taxes, such as a financial transaction tax. It concluded that although some options would provide minor benefits, they were all unworkable in practice. Many of the options would place a disproportionate burden on certain member states – while others, if linked to the European Union budget, would simply add to the budget's complexity rather than reduce it.
Source: Ten Ways to Introduce an EU Tax (And Why None of Them Will Work), Open Europe
Links: Report | Open Europe press release
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined the extent to which the global financial crisis had intensified pressure to 'reform' the welfare state, based on a comparison of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. Initial responses had been surprisingly similar, with continuing public support for the welfare state the main explanatory factor.
Source: Barbara Vis, Kees van Kersbergen, and Tom Hylands, 'To what extent did the financial crisis intensify the pressure to reform the welfare state?', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 45 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined the immediate policy responses to urgent social matters under conditions of economic crisis, focusing on social and unemployment policies in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Governments seemed to have fallen back on 'old habits' by adopting reactive policies that were based on their institutional legacies.
Source: Heejung Chung and Stefan Thewissen, 'Falling back on old habits? A comparison of the social and unemployment crisis reactive policy strategies in Germany, the UK and Sweden', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 45 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined the relationship between decentralization and economic growth in developed (OECD) countries. The results pointed towards a significant negative association between fiscal decentralization and economic growth.
Source: Andres Rodriguez-Pose and Roberto Ezcurra, 'Is fiscal decentralization harmful for economic growth? Evidence from the OECD countries', Journal of Economic Geography, Volume 11 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published its annual report for 2010-11.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11, HC 1001, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
The Finance Act 2011 was given Royal assent. The Act gave effect to taxation measures proposed in the 2011 Budget.
Source: Finance Act 2011, HM Treasury, TSO
Links: Act
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper said that financial corporations in the City of London wielded power 'like that of a city state'. This had become a serious problem, as expenditure cuts were undermining the benefits system and publicly funded jobs which were the life support of the ex-industrial areas.
Source: Ismail Erturk, Julie Froud, Sukhdev Johal, Adam Leaver, Michael Moran, and Karel Williams, City State Against National Settlement: UK economic policy and politics after the financial crisis, Working Paper 101, Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change (University of Manchester)
Links: Paper | CRESC press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An audit report said that unfair treatment of consumers, ranging from pressure selling to systematic scams by criminals, was costing billions of pounds each year – but the system for enforcing consumer law was not delivering value for money. The overall scale of this 'consumer detriment', particularly that caused by doorstep crime, was not being properly evaluated.
Source: Protecting Consumers: The system for enforcing consumer law, HC 1087 (Session 2010-2012), National Audit Office, TSO
Links: Report | NAO press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A briefing paper said that social dialogue should have a bigger role to play in the European response to the global economic crisis. The potential of social dialogue at different levels had not been exploited fully, and social partners lacked any role in the European Union economic governance proposals.
Source: Stefan Clauwaert and Isabelle Schomann, European Social Dialogue and Transnational Framework Agreements As a Response to the Crisis?, Policy Brief 4/2011, European Trade Union Institute
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper examined national austerity packages in Europe in the wake of the global financial crisis. It was doubtful whether European Union countries were willing and/or able to combine fiscal austerity with the measures required to achieve the longer-term goals of 'smart, sustainable and inclusive growth' set out in the Europe 2020 strategy. Although some form of social dialogue took place in most countries prior to announcement of the austerity packages, in the final outcome the views of trade unions were largely ignored: in several member states there was no social dialogue at all.
Source: Sotiria Theodoropoulou and Andrew Watt, Withdrawal Symptoms: An assessment of the austerity packages in Europe, Working Paper 2011-02, European Trade Union Institute
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
The government began consultation on proposals to reform institutional arrangements for the provision of consumer information, advice, education, representation, and enforcement. Almost all central government funding in the relevant areas would transfer to the Citizens Advice service.
Source: Empowering and Protecting Consumers: Consultation on institutional changes for provision of consumer information, advice, education, advocacy and enforcement, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Consultation document | Hansard | Citizens Advice press release | Consumer Focus press release | OFT press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper examined the demographic challenges faced by Europe. The European workforce was about to enter a period of fast decline that might hamper Europe's economic progress. The ageing of the population combined with shrinking numbers of working-age people altered the generational contract and would put Europe's welfare systems at risk.
Source: Philippe Fargues, International Migration and Europe s Demographic Challenge, European University Institute (Florence)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
The European Commission published a set of recommendations designed to help the United Kingdom adjust its economic and social policies for growth, jobs, and reform of public finances – alongside similar recommendations for the other European Union member states, and for the euro area as a whole.
Source: Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the National Reform Programme 2011 of the United Kingdom and Delivering a Council Opinion on the Updated Convergence Programme of the United Kingdom, 2011-2014, European Commission | Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the Implementation of the Broad Guidelines for the Economic Policies of the Member States Whose Currency Is the Euro, European Commission
Links: UK report | EC working paper (UK) | Euro area report | EC working paper (euro area) | European Commission press release | Link to country reports | EAPN press release | EWL press release | Joint EMCO/SPC opinion
Notes: UK national reform programme (April 2011) | UK convergence programme (April 2011)
Date: 2011-Jun
The government published a White Paper (including a draft Bill) on regulation of the financial services sector. The financial crisis had exposed 'inherent weaknesses' in the regulatory system, with no single institution having responsibility, authority, or powers to oversee the financial system as a whole.
Source: A New Approach to Financial Regulation: The blueprint for reform, Cm 8083, HM Treasury, TSO
Links: White Paper | HMT press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the effects of economic recessions on fertility in the developed world. In most countries, the recent global recession had brought a decline in the number of births and fertility rates, often marking a sharp halt to the previous decade of rising fertility rates.
Source: Tomas Sobotk, Vegard Skirbekk, and Dimiter Philipov, 'Economic recession and fertility in the developed world', Population and Development Review, Volume 37 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A report by a committee of peers said that the coalition government had 'on the whole' stuck to its new approach to tax policy-making, including full consultation at each stage in the process.
Source: The Finance Bill 2011, 4th Report (Session 2010-12), HL 158, House of Lords Economic Affairs Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jun
An article said that the coalition government's policy programme risked turning the financial crisis into a crisis of the state, by exacerbating social antagonisms. Neoliberalism was being invoked to deal with an economic crisis that it had helped to create. The state was resorting to a more coercive form of political management, and the effects of austerity were being offset through increased indebtedness on the part of the general public – both of which risked igniting social conflict.
Source: Huw Macartney, 'Crisis for the state or crisis of the state?', Political Quarterly, Volume 82 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
An annual report examined social policy developments in the European Union in 2010. It considered the Europe 2020 strategy, and the response to the social and economic impact of the global recession.
Source: Christophe Degryse and David Natali (eds.), Social Developments in the European Union 2010, European Social Observatory (Brussels)/European Trade Union Institute
Links: Report
Date: 2011-May
HM Treasury published a revised business plan, covering the period 2011-2015.
Source: Business Plan 2011-2015, HM Treasury
Date: 2011-May
A new book examined the effect of the recession on Britain. Detailed maps showed how the economic, social, and environmental fortunes of different areas had been affected in the wake of the 2007 banking crisis, 2008 economic crash, and 2009 credit 'crunch'.
Source: Daniel Dorling and Bethan Thomas, Bankrupt Britain: An atlas of social change, Policy Press
Links: Summary | CCCS press release
Date: 2011-May
A report summarized the outcome of a conference (organized in 2010 by the European Commission) that examined the role of business in society, including the issue of corporate social responsibility.
Source: Towards a Greater Understanding of the Changing Role of Business in Society, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-May
A paper examined the ways in which the European Union and the United States of America were responding to the global financial crisis. The main features of the European social model allowed for a more sustainable recovery and lessened the social costs of the recession.
Source: Pasquale Tridico, Varieties of Capitalism and Responses to the Financial Crisis: The European social model versus the US model, Working Paper 129, Dipartimento di Economia, Universita degli Studi Roma Tre
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
A report identified ways for European Union countries to use immigration policy to deal with the challenges brought about by an ageing population, rapid technological change, and economic restructuring. It outlined an approach to immigration growth, and examined short- and long-term trends in how the immigration system supported economic growth and prosperity.
Source: Koen Jonkers, Immigration and European Innovation Systems: Challenges for economic growth and prosperity, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
Links: Report
Date: 2011-May
A report (by a network of independent experts) examined the social impact in Europe of the global economic crisis. It also put forward a series of suggestions for monitoring and strengthening the social inclusion dimension of fiscal consolidation measures at both national and European Union level.
Source: Hugh Frazer and Eric Marlier, Social Impact of the Crisis and Developments in the Light of Fiscal Consolidation Measures, Peer Review in Social Protection and Social Inclusion and Assessment in Social Inclusion (European Commission)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-May
A paper reviewed social and economic developments in the European Union following the Lisbon Treaty. The Treaty had sought to answer to the need to rebalance 'the social and the economic' within the European legal order: but the results had been far from fully satisfactory. Most of the associated reforms had had a predominantly defensive character, seeking to respond to member states' concerns and to reassert the original allocation of competences in the social sphere.
Source: Francesco Costamagna, The Internal Market and the Welfare State After the Lisbon Treaty, Research Paper 4, European Social Observatory
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Apr
A report provided a gender impact assessment of the coalition government's 2011 Budget. It highlighted a cumulative failure to address the inequalities that existed between women and men, and to mitigate austerity measures that threatened to further widen inequality.
Source: The Impact on Women of the Budget 2011, Women's Budget Group
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Apr
The Finance (No. 3) Bill was given a second reading. The Bill was designed to implement provisions in the 2011 Budget relating to taxation.
Source: Finance (No. 3) Bill, HM Treasury, TSO | Debate 26 April 2011, columns 68-144, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | MPs report
Date: 2011-Apr
A report by a committee of MPs examined the 2011 Budget. It called for a full review of the Office for Budget Responsibility, including its powers, remit, and relationship to Parliament; and for gradual reform of the tax regime in line with the principles of certainty, stability, and simplicity.
Source: Budget 2011, Tenth Report (Session 2010-11), HC 897, House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Apr
The United Kingdom coalition government published the first 'national reform programme' submitted as part of the European Union's growth strategy, Europe 2020. It said that it was determined to promote strong, sustainable, and balanced growth that was more evenly shared. Public spending cuts were needed in order to ensure the sustainability of Europe's public finances, increase employment, and enhance social cohesion.
Source: Europe 2020: UK National Reform Programme 2011, HM Treasury
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined the impact of the 2011 Budget on households with low-to-medium earnings.
Source: Matthew Whittaker, Budget 2011: The Impact on Low-to-Middle Earners, Resolution Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Apr
A think-tank report said that the government needed to adopt a long-term industrial strategy designed to produce not just jobs but good jobs – jobs that helped the attainment of the three overarching goals of well-being, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
Source: James Meadway, Charles Seaford, Tony Greenham, and Stewart Wallis, The Good Jobs Plan: A new approach to industrial strategy, New Economics Foundation
Links: Report | Summary | Morning Star report
Date: 2011-Mar
The Finance (No 3) Bill was published. The Bill was designed to implement the measures proposed in the 2011 Budget.
Source: Finance (No 3) Bill, HM Treasury, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Lobby notes | HMT press release
Date: 2011-Mar
A think-tank report said that the Treasury needed to be reformed, and set out proposals to strengthen its role, make it subject to greater scrutiny, and improve the quality of its decision-making.
Source: Kitty Ussher and Imogen Walford, National Treasure, Demos
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined concerns arising from banks' direct and indirect impacts on customers, employees, and local and national communities. Issues covered included: customer service, financial exclusion, responsible credit, gender equity in employment, project financing, asset management, lobbying, money laundering, tax avoidance, developing country debt, commodity speculation, board governance, risk management, remuneration, and transparency.
Source: The Banks and Society: Rebuilding trust – Social, ethical and environmental concerns, Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility
Links: Report | Summary | ECCR press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The Scottish Government published its response to the 'Europe 2020' strategy for economic growth and social cohesion. It set out how the policies of the Scottish Government contributed to European economic recovery.
Source: Europe 2020: Scottish National Reform Programme 2011, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
A trade union report offered a critical assessment of the 'Europe 2020' strategy for growth and social cohesion. It questioned the emphasis on fiscal consolidation at the expense of economic growth and the creation of high-quality jobs. The introduction of a target to reduce poverty was a positive improvement over the previous Lisbon Strategy: but a change in how poverty and social exclusion were measured was at odds with commonly accepted definitions.
Source: Benchmarking Working Europe 2011, European Trade Union Institute
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined whether the agenda of the coalition government was best understood as a new approach to deep-seated economic shortcomings or simply as the normal politics of gaining and retaining power. It analyzed the government's programme of public spending cuts and restructuring, identified common features across a range of policies, and discussed how they were likely to develop as they encountered set-backs.
Source: Peter Taylor-Gooby and Gerry Stoker, 'The coalition programme: a new vision for Britain or politics as usual?', Political Quarterly, Volume 82 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
The 2011 Budget set out proposals to:
• Increase the personal income tax allowance by £630 in April 2012, to £8,105.
• Make the default indexation for direct taxes the consumer prices index (CPI) rather than the retail prices index (RPI) from April 2012.
• Conduct a review of the higher (50 pence) income tax rate.
• Bring forward measures to simplify the tax system by consulting on options for integrating income tax and national insurance contributions.
• Bring forward a Green Paper on state pension reform, including an option for a single-tier pension of around £140 per week for future pensioners.
• Conduct regular, independent reviews to establish longevity rates, which would then be used to determine increases in the state pension age.
• Adopt the Hutton report recommendations on cuts to public service pensions as a basis for consultation.
• Introduce a one-tenth reduction in the inheritance tax rate when at least one-tenth of a person's net estate was donated to charity.
• Simplify the Gift Aid scheme for small donations.
• Create 11 enterprise zones across England, with simplified planning rules.
• Create a 'powerful presumption' in the planning system in favour of sustainable development.
Official estimates of economic growth were downgraded for both 2010 and 2011. 200,000 fewer jobs would be created during 2010-2015, and public borrowing over the same period would be £45 billion higher, compared with previous forecasts.
Source: Budget 2011, HC 836, HM Treasury, TSO
Links: Budget report | Overview of Tax Legislation and Rates | Economic and Fiscal Outlook (OBR) | Hansard | HMT press release | DCLG press release | Conservative Party press release | HOC research note | Action for Children press release | Barnardos press release | BPF press release | CAF press release | CBI press release | Centre for Cities press release | CIH press release | CIOT press release | Citizens Advice press release | Civitas press release | CLA press release | CPAG press release | CPRE press release | ECP press release | Fabian Society analysis | Fawcett Society press release | Green Alliance press release | Green Party press release | IFS press release | IPPR press release | JRF press release | Labour Party press release | L&G press release | LGA press release | LITRG press release | Museums Association press release | NAPF press release | NCVO press release | NEF press release | NHF press release | NLGN press release | Policy Exchange press release | Scope press release | Shelter press release | Sustrans press release | TCPA press release | TUC press release | UKGBC press release | UKSIF press release | Unicef UK press release | Urban Forum press release | Work Foundation press release | BBC report | Civil Society report | Community Care report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined the social impact in Europe of the economic crisis and of 'recovery' policies pursued in 2010. The situation was worsening, as governments' austerity measures penalized people in poverty and undermined a sustainable recovery. The social impact was being systematically under-assessed and ignored. Third sector organizations were gravely weakened and their fundamental contribution to society was at stake. The crisis was not inevitable and was a result of deregulation and increasing inequality, not public sector spending.
Source: Is the European Project Moving Backwards? The social impact of the crisis and of the recovery policies in 2010, European Anti-Poverty Network
Links: Report | EurActiv report
Date: 2011-Feb
A think-tank report said that the government should resist any temptation to relax its tight fiscal stance in the 2011 Budget – but that it should also set out more clearly the circumstances in which it might deviate from its existing public spending plans.
Source: Mike Brewer, Carl Emmerson, and Helen Miller (eds.), The IFS Green Budget: February 2011, Institute for Fiscal Studies
Links: Report | IFS press release | Conservative Party press release | Labour Party press release | TUC press release | Public Finance report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined the effectiveness of European Union assessments of the social impact of the economic crisis. It recommended ways to strengthen monitoring and social impact assessment as a key tool to prevent long-term damage to European welfare systems and increased poverty.
Source: Sian Jones, 'The social impact of the crisis: is European Union monitoring working?', Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, Volume 18 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the proposition that the modern labour market played a key role in individualization processes – requiring choices and decisions that no longer accommodated employment based on kinship and friendship. The study's empirical evidence from two generations of individuals indicated that the disjuncture was 'muddier and more complex' than previously understood.
Source: Line Nyhagen Predelli and Andreas Cebulla, 'Perceptions of labour market risks: shifts and continuities across generations', Current Sociology, Volume 59 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A study examined the actual and expected impacts of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) on both European labour markets and governments' regulatory capacity.
Source: Gintare Kemekliene and Andrew Watt, GATS and the EU: Impacts on labour markets and regulatory capacity, Report 116, European Trade Union Institute
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A report by a committee of peers said that there should be an annual debate by the House of Lords of the government's National Reform Programme setting out progress by the United Kingdom on the European Union strategy for inclusive economic growth (2010-2020).
Source: The EU Strategy for Economic Growth and the UK National Reform Programme, 5th Report (Session 2010-11), HL 81, House of Lords European Union Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined the future of cohesion policy in the European Union, aimed at ensuring economic, social, and territorial cohesion. It said that cohesion policy should remain European, with no re-nationalization of any kind, and with an increased involvement of regions at all stages of the decision-making process.
Source: Estelle Delangle, Cohesion in Europe: Regions take up the challenge, Assembly of European Regions
Date: 2011-Jan