9 Belgian reference budgets for social participation and their use for policy purposes
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Bérénice Storms
Abstract
This chapter discusses the development of reference budgets in Belgium. It confirms how reference budgets offer a monetary benchmark, which illustrates the minimum costs of goods and services that individuals and families should have at their disposal in order to adequately participate in society. It also clarifies the standard adequate social participation and reference budgets that are designed for pre-defined “model families.” The chapter looks into the approach of the study, which is grounded in the theories of human need and the deliberations of experts and researchers who are guided by official guidelines and scientific literature. It discloses how focus groups are used to help establish the acceptability of the reference budgets, which comprises of people from different socio-economic backgrounds.
Abstract
This chapter discusses the development of reference budgets in Belgium. It confirms how reference budgets offer a monetary benchmark, which illustrates the minimum costs of goods and services that individuals and families should have at their disposal in order to adequately participate in society. It also clarifies the standard adequate social participation and reference budgets that are designed for pre-defined “model families.” The chapter looks into the approach of the study, which is grounded in the theories of human need and the deliberations of experts and researchers who are guided by official guidelines and scientific literature. It discloses how focus groups are used to help establish the acceptability of the reference budgets, which comprises of people from different socio-economic backgrounds.
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
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Introduction
- An introduction to minimum income standards and reference budgets: international and comparative policy perspectives 3
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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
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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
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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
