Impact of in-kind benefits on income distribution and on vulnerable populations

Expected Outcome:

Projects should contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Policy makers get a mapping of in-kind benefits across Member States and a comprehensive measurement framework.
• Policy makers gain insights on the availability of in-kind services, on potential gaps in their provision, and on reasons for non-take up.
• Policy makers gain insights into the redistributive role of in-kind benefits and on the segregation of different social groups, through SSH research.
• Policy makers receive operational advice to make informed policy choices which reduce inequality and strengthen fairness and cohesion.

Scope:

In-kind benefits refer to non-cash goods and services provided to individuals or households, typically by the government (national, regional and/or local), to support their well-being or fulfil basic needs. Unlike cash transfers, which can be spent at the recipient's discretion, in-kind benefits ensure that resources are used for specific purposes for free or at a subsidised cost (e.g. food banks, social housing, health and long-term care services, childcare, schooling, sport infrastructure, public transport). Despite the wide range of in-kind benefits, there is poor empirical knowledge basis of the impact of in-kind benefits (except for healthcare) on the income distribution and on vulnerable groups, unlike the impact of cash benefits.

Research activities may focus, as a baseline, on establishing a full mapping of in-kind benefits (both for free and at a subsidised cost, universal and means-tested) provided by national, regional and local governments. This mapping, potentially structured along the life-cycle perspective and/or around specific groups, might help to develop EU indicators on in-kind benefits and improve comparability.

Trimmed here, the full scope, expected outcomes and award criteria are on the official topic page ↗.