Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2002): Child Welfare - Overseas

CHILD POVERTY IN BRITAIN AND GERMANY

S Jenkins, C Schluter and G Wagner

Anglo-German Foundation, 2002

Found that 30% of children in Britain live in poverty compared to 19% in Germany. In both countries entry into poverty was mainly associated with being part of a lone parent family while exit was associated with an increase in the number of full-time workers in the household. Found that the German tax and benefit system was more effective in protecting individuals against adverse events such as job loss and in supporting individuals moving into work, for example by providing day care services for children.