17 Applying the Minimum Income Standard in diverse national contexts
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Matt Padley
Abstract
This chapter analyzes some of the challenges associated with research work that applies the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) approach in different national contexts around the globe. It delves into the conception of minimum living standards across different country contexts that requires a concerted effort to establish how much is enough in each context. It also points out that the definitions of minimum living standards should not only reflect the values and norms of a given country, but also that these definitions should function as the basis for establishing consensus about the sorts of goods and services needed to achieve the minimum living standard. The chapter stresses how the MIS work across diverse contexts requires a certain level of “translation.” It investigates the MIS programme of research conducted in Mexico, Singapore and South Africa, which confirms that the “minimum” can have different meanings, connotations, interpretations, and even contestations.
Abstract
This chapter analyzes some of the challenges associated with research work that applies the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) approach in different national contexts around the globe. It delves into the conception of minimum living standards across different country contexts that requires a concerted effort to establish how much is enough in each context. It also points out that the definitions of minimum living standards should not only reflect the values and norms of a given country, but also that these definitions should function as the basis for establishing consensus about the sorts of goods and services needed to achieve the minimum living standard. The chapter stresses how the MIS work across diverse contexts requires a certain level of “translation.” It investigates the MIS programme of research conducted in Mexico, Singapore and South Africa, which confirms that the “minimum” can have different meanings, connotations, interpretations, and even contestations.
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
