4 The French experience of reference budgets
-
Pierre Concialdi
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the French experience of reference budgets in establishing an operational definition of “minimum decent income,” which since has been inspired by the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) methodology developed in the UK. It explains the MIS approach that has been applied extensively in the French context and covered six family types. It also examines the most recent “MIS France” results, which confirms that the basic amount of guaranteed minimum incomes in France is far below the reference budgets for all family types, and yet for the time being. The chapter points out how reference budget research has failed to stir political action and public debate in France. It highlights the main results of the study and related research findings that place reference budgets in the French policy debate.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the French experience of reference budgets in establishing an operational definition of “minimum decent income,” which since has been inspired by the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) methodology developed in the UK. It explains the MIS approach that has been applied extensively in the French context and covered six family types. It also examines the most recent “MIS France” results, which confirms that the basic amount of guaranteed minimum incomes in France is far below the reference budgets for all family types, and yet for the time being. The chapter points out how reference budget research has failed to stir political action and public debate in France. It highlights the main results of the study and related research findings that place reference budgets in the French policy debate.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures viii
- Notes on contributors x
- Acknowledgements xix
- Preface from the series editors xx
- Foreword xxii
-
Introduction
- An introduction to minimum income standards and reference budgets: international and comparative policy perspectives 3
-
Case studies
- From normative budget standards to consensual minimum income standards in the UK 27
- Minimum Essential Standards of Living research in Ireland 39
- The French experience of reference budgets 55
- Minimum income research in Japan: its development and political implications 67
- Measuring needs and setting standards in Singapore 83
- A South African pilot of the Minimum Income Standards approach 97
- Reference budgets as tools for everyday life, evaluation and policy making in Finland 109
- Belgian reference budgets for social participation and their use for policy purposes 123
- The development, value and application of budget standards: reflecting on the Australian experience 139
- Estimating the cost of raising a child in Catalonia through the reference budgets approach 155
- Measuring poverty in the Netherlands: the generalised reference budget approach 169
- The Norwegian reference budget 185
- Minimum budgets for Danish families 197
- The Swedish Consumer Agency’s calculations of reference values for some of the most common household expense categories 207
-
Cross-national and comparative perspectives
- The Slovenian experience with three methods for defining the minimum income 227
- Applying the Minimum Income Standard in diverse national contexts 241
- The steep and winding road to comparable reference budgets in Europe 255
- Adequate income in Portugal: a comparison of two estimation methods 271
-
Policy and practice
- Basic needs budgets in policy and practice 291
- Establishing a national standard: the role of the UK’s Minimum Income Standard in policy and practice 307
- Minimum Income Standards in the Basic Income debate 319
-
Conclusions
- Minimum income standards and reference budgets: past, present, future? 333
- Index 345
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures viii
- Notes on contributors x
- Acknowledgements xix
- Preface from the series editors xx
- Foreword xxii
-
Introduction
- An introduction to minimum income standards and reference budgets: international and comparative policy perspectives 3
-
Case studies
- From normative budget standards to consensual minimum income standards in the UK 27
- Minimum Essential Standards of Living research in Ireland 39
- The French experience of reference budgets 55
- Minimum income research in Japan: its development and political implications 67
- Measuring needs and setting standards in Singapore 83
- A South African pilot of the Minimum Income Standards approach 97
- Reference budgets as tools for everyday life, evaluation and policy making in Finland 109
- Belgian reference budgets for social participation and their use for policy purposes 123
- The development, value and application of budget standards: reflecting on the Australian experience 139
- Estimating the cost of raising a child in Catalonia through the reference budgets approach 155
- Measuring poverty in the Netherlands: the generalised reference budget approach 169
- The Norwegian reference budget 185
- Minimum budgets for Danish families 197
- The Swedish Consumer Agency’s calculations of reference values for some of the most common household expense categories 207
-
Cross-national and comparative perspectives
- The Slovenian experience with three methods for defining the minimum income 227
- Applying the Minimum Income Standard in diverse national contexts 241
- The steep and winding road to comparable reference budgets in Europe 255
- Adequate income in Portugal: a comparison of two estimation methods 271
-
Policy and practice
- Basic needs budgets in policy and practice 291
- Establishing a national standard: the role of the UK’s Minimum Income Standard in policy and practice 307
- Minimum Income Standards in the Basic Income debate 319
-
Conclusions
- Minimum income standards and reference budgets: past, present, future? 333
- Index 345
