Reducing child poverty in Britain: An assessment of government policy 1997-2001

The reduction and eventual elimination of child poverty has become one of t he central objectives of the new Labour Government in Britain. Measures to achieve this by changing taxes and benefits and promoting paid work are des cribed. Their effects are assessed using a micro-simulation model. The poli cy changes will achieve a significant reduction in child poverty but it wil l remain in 2001 substantially higher than in 1979 and much higher than in most European nations.