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Moving back to Mum?
Universal Credit is hoped to reduce both the benefit bill and levels of dependency from 2013. If it has an effect on people’s behaviour, then we can hope for it to show up in the household statistics....
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James Caan, social mobility and the job market
James Caan may be wondering why he ever accepted the title of Social Mobility Tsar. Tsars are not renowned for promoting social mobility. Opera fans will recall Boris Godunov’s strenuous and desperate...
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Breaking the unemployment habit
This morning (22nd August), Radio Gloucestershire (temporary link) broadcast a piece of thoughtful and constructive reporting by Heather Simons. The headline was that public money was funding training...
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A triple lock is irresponsibly expensive
As a first move in the 2015 election campaign, David Cameron has announced that the triple guarantee will, if he gets elected, continue to apply to the Basic State Pension. It looks like a clever move,...
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Who can afford a nicer house than their parental home?
Staying with parents Increasing numbers of adults are living with their parents. The reason is obvious: it costs too much to move out. Building more houses might help but only if the market works to...
View ArticleJSA claims fall faster than unemployment
Unemployment was down again in the last quarter of 2013. This may look a bit weird as the December estimate is actually higher than the November one, but down is the correct interpretation. Survey...
View ArticleSavings attract tax relief but lose benefits
20.8% Interest A cash investment paying 20.8% per annum would not need to be advertised. Investors would be queuing round the block to take advantage. Anyone receiving that rate of interest would be...
View ArticleLord Freud is being pilloried for raising an issue that warrants discussion
Welfare Reform Minister, Lord Freud, agreed in answer to a question at a Conservative conference fringe meeting that some disabled people cannot do the same value work as more able people can. For...
View ArticleLord Freud was right; he should not have been forced to apologise; and should...
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves has said that it is ‘unacceptable’ for Lord Freud to remain in his post after he answered a question about the impact of the minimum wage on disabled...
View ArticleThe cost of immigration
The UCL Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration has produced another report claiming that immigrants from the European Economic Area made a net contribution to the Treasury between 2001 and 2011....
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