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Universal versus Targeted Benefits: The Distributional Effects of Free School Meals

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  • Carlo J Morelli
  • Paul T Seaman

Abstract

UK government policy over the past thirty years has seen a movement away from universal provision of welfare towards the targeting of welfare. The advent of devolution in Scotland, and to a lesser degree Wales, has, however, created new policy forums in which the shift towards targeted benefits has been reversed in a number of important fields. Welfare provision in relation to children is a further key area in which this policy debate has emerged. Little evidence has been provided for the effectiveness of this shift in policy until now. We examine the effect of this divergence in welfare policy. We look at the issue of universality and targeting by examining the impact of the proposal for the introduction of universal free school meals to all children in full-time state education. The current system of free school meals is found to be the least effective method of welfare provision. Other methods of targeting are found to be more effective than the current system, but universal provision is found to be the only mechanism for consistently providing welfare to all low-income households.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlo J Morelli & Paul T Seaman, 2005. "Universal versus Targeted Benefits: The Distributional Effects of Free School Meals," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 23(4), pages 583-598, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:23:y:2005:i:4:p:583-598
    DOI: 10.1068/c0457
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    1. Michaela Benzeval & Jayne Taylor & Ken Judge, 2000. "Evidence on the relationship between income and poor health: is the government doing enough?," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 21(3), pages 375-399, September.
    2. Mike Brewer & Tom Clark & Alissa Goodman, 2003. "What Really Happened to Child Poverty in the UK under Labour's First Term?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 113(488), pages 240-257, June.
    3. Paul Gregg & Susan Harkness & Stephen Machin, 1999. "Poor kids: trends in child poverty in Britain, 1968-96," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 20(2), pages 163-187, June.
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    1. Carlo Morelli & Paul Seaman, 2005. "Devolution and Inequality: A sorry tale of ineffectual government and failure to create a community of equals?," Dundee Discussion Papers in Economics 181, Economic Studies, University of Dundee.

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