Price of poverty hurts us all, yet research reveals an easy fix
By Daniel Ziffer and Gareth Hutchens

In 2020, Australia massively increased welfare payments and conducted a live experiment in ending poverty, but when the subsidy was removed, many were thrown back into hardship. Leaving aside the moral dimension, would it be cheaper to end poverty than to maintain it?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-28/cheaper-to-end-poverty-increase-jobseeker-than-maintain-hardship/105866692

#Poverty #Unemployment #Tax #CostofLiving #SocialPolicy #Welfare #DanielZiffer #GarethHutchens

Price of poverty hurts us all, yet research reveals an easy fix
By Daniel Ziffer and Gareth Hutchens

In 2020, Australia massively increased welfare payments and conducted a live experiment in ending poverty, but when the subsidy was removed, many were thrown back into hardship. Leaving aside the moral dimension, would it be cheaper to end poverty than to maintain it?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-28/cheaper-to-end-poverty-increase-jobseeker-than-maintain-hardship/105866692

#Poverty #Unemployment #Tax #CostofLiving #SocialPolicy #Welfare #DanielZiffer #GarethHutchens

💸 More economic growth is not necessarily what we need to create economic security and social wellbeing in Europe.

Instead, together with @oxfamnovib, we offer eco-social welfare as an alternative. This approach involves the fair distribution of wealth, power and resources; investments in essential services; and centring of community wealth and practices of care.

Drawing on national and municipal examples across Europe, we highlight key transition paths needed for #decoupling welfare from growth and share strategic insights to advance a welfare agenda rooted in eco-social justice for all.

📕 Read the full policy primer on #Welfare Beyond Growth https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/10/22/welfare-beyond-growth-primer-2/

💸 More economic growth is not necessarily what we need to create economic security and social wellbeing in Europe.

Instead, together with @oxfamnovib, we offer eco-social welfare as an alternative. This approach involves the fair distribution of wealth, power and resources; investments in essential services; and centring of community wealth and practices of care.

Drawing on national and municipal examples across Europe, we highlight key transition paths needed for #decoupling welfare from growth and share strategic insights to advance a welfare agenda rooted in eco-social justice for all.

📕 Read the full policy primer on #Welfare Beyond Growth https://www.commonsnetwork.org/2025/10/22/welfare-beyond-growth-primer-2/

I keep thinking about how the average #beneficiary spends 50% of their income on #accommodation, which means the demographic costing our #welfare system the most is, in fact, private #landlords.
#NZPol