New Zealand’s Social Assistance System: Financial Incentives to Work

This paper is a stock take of the financial incentives to work present in New Zealand’s social assistance system. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for research on problems facing the social assistance system and dilemmas that would be likely to arise when considering potential initiatives to address such problems. The current financial incentives to work contained in the social assistance system reflect efforts to tailor different financial incentives to different groups in the population. No single structure of financial incentives is appropriate for all people and at all times. It is therefore necessary from time to time to consider whether existing financial incentives continue to meet government objectives, such as encouraging work among different groups in the population. Improving the structure of financial incentives, however, defies simple solutions and requires trade-offs between competing and conflicting objectives to be made. In order to set the scene for later discussion, this paper begins with a brief description of the evolution of New Zealand’s social assistance system. This paper then moves on to discuss the financial returns from social assistance programmes and the distribution of the financial disincentives to work present in the current social assistance system. A number of further considerations are then discussed, particularly accommodation and childcare costs and the length of time that people tend to spend on social welfare benefits. This paper then considers the need for trade-offs between policy outcomes when developing policy initiatives to improve financial incentives to work before presenting a summary of its main findings. Appendixes to this paper describe the programmes that make up New Zealand’s three-tier social assistance system, key features of the personal income tax scale, a method for calculating Effective Marginal Tax Rates (EMTRs), and TaxMod and the Household Economic Survey (HES).Social Security, Social Assistance

Financial intermediations, bank failure and official assistance

Banking;Information;Financial Institutions

Optimal lender of last resort policy in different financial systems

In a framework closely related to Diamond and Rajan (2001) we characterize different financial systems and analyze the welfare implications of different LOLR-policies in these financial systems. We show that in a bank-dominated financial system it is less likely that a LOLR-policy that follows the Bagehot rules is preferable. In financial systems with rather illiquid assets a discretionary individual liquidity assistance might be welfare improving, while in market-based financial systems, with rather liquid assets in the banks' balance sheets, emergency liquidity assistance provided freely to the market at a penalty rate is likely to be efficient. Thus, a "one size fits all"-approach that does not take the differences of financial systems into account is misguiding. --Financial Crises,Lender of Last Resort,Comparing Financial Systems

The role of the ECB in financial assistance programmes

In this note I describe the proper role for a well-designed central bank in resolving bank and sovereign debt crises: ensuring that markets and financial institutions, including sovereigns, remain liquid. I consider how much revenue the ECB can raise without be inflationary and how it can mobilise this revenue in support of the financial assistance programmes for illiquid but potentially solvent sovereigns

Demystifying the Rehabilitation Act: What Faith-based and Community Organizations Need To Know About Using Federal Financial Assistance to Serve People With Disabilities

[Excerpt] If you represent a faith-based or community-based organization that is • Receiving financial assistance from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) (e.g., a grant, sub-award, contract, in-kind assistance, etc.), or • Planning to apply for financial assistance from USDOL, or • Partnering with an existing USDOL-supported program, Then, the following information will help you better understand how Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to your organization as you serve people with disabilities

Service Delivery in Substance Abuse Treatment: Reexamining "Comprehensive" Care

Outlines findings on organizational characteristics linked with comprehensive services -- core diagnosis and treatment and wraparound services, including transportation and childcare assistance or legal, financial, employment, or medical resources

Hospital Community Benefits After the ACA: Building on State Experience

Analyzes hospitals' requirements to conduct community health needs assessments, financial assistance and billing and collection policies, and community benefit reporting and oversight strategies. Notes implications for federal and state law and practice

Federally-Facilitated Exchanges and the Continuum of State Options

Examines the features in eligibility, enrollment, plan management, consumer assistance, and financial management of three health insurance exchange models: state-based, federally facilitated, and partnership exchanges. Considers implications for states

Optimal lender of last resort policy in different financial systems

In a framework closely related to Diamond and Rajan (2001) we characterize different financial systems and analyze the welfare implications of different LOLR-policies in these financial systems. We show that in a bank-dominated financial system it is less likely that a LOLR-policy that follows the Bagehot rules is preferable. In financial systems with rather illiquid assets a discretionary individual liquidity assistance might be welfare improving, while in market-based financial systems, with rather liquid assets in the banks' balance sheets, emergency liquidity assistance provided freely to the market at a penalty rate is likely to be efficient. Thus, a "one size fits all"-approach that does not take the differences of financial systems into account is misguiding. JEL - Klassifikation: D52 , E44 , G21 , E52 , E5

Health Coverage for Immigrants in New York: An Update on Policy Developments and Next Steps

Examines the implementation of a New York State Court of Appeals decision to extend coverage to legal immigrants, and addresses the need for federal financial assistance to help provide health coverage to legal immigrants on the same basis as citizens