Using Microsimulation to Optimize an Income Transfer System Towards Poverty Reduction

In this study, a static microsimulation model SOMA is used to optimize Finland's tax-benefit legislation to alleviate poverty or at least to reduce it significantly. The method is a classical optimization method using a greed optimization strategy. This means an iterative process, where only one poverty diminishing parameter is changed by 10% from its earlier value at each iteration. Expenses are also optimized to reduce inequality as measured by the Gini-coefficient. Revenues and expenses are balanced at every iteration. Certain parameters of social assistance were found to be the most effective in reducing poverty. However by raising substantially the basic unemployment benefit, basic pensions, housing benefits and study grants - leaving social assistance untouched - poverty was reduced by under 50 percent. This means that social assistance is still required to reduce poverty further. Costs are most effectively financed by raising capital income tax.Inequality, Optimization, Poverty, Public Policy, Simulation Methodology, Tax-Benefit System

A bibliometric analysis on poverty alleviation

Purpose - World legends and the scientific community have taken the devastating impact of poverty issue seriously which has been reflected in the growing trend of research in this area. Hence, this paper aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis on poverty alleviation literature, discuss the various dimensions of poverty alleviation, and deliver some ideas for future research. Design/methodology/approach – This study deploys a combined quali-quantitative method familiar as meta-literature review on 454 articles collected from the web of science (WoS) database with social science citation index (SSCI) coverage over the period 1971-2020. Using Rstudio, VOSviewer, and Excel, the collected data have been analysed from different lenses. Findings – The study considers the most contributing scientific actors like authors, journals, topics, institutions, and countries as parameters for analysing articles. Based on the analysis from various perspectives, it determines five main research streams upon which it provides some potential research directions to be considered in future research. Originality – This study provides a retrospective on the scientific works and collective efforts of scholars germane to poverty alleviation from the -highest ranked journals, which would help better understand the literature development and the intellectual structure of this field. Limitation – The study solely relies on the articles available in the WoS database with index in social science citation Index (SSCI). However, it excludes analysing thousands of articles on the same topic available in other platforms

Comparison of selected instrument in the Czech and Finnish family policy - microsimulation model

The objective of the submitted thesis: "Comparison of selected instrument in the Czech and Finnish family policy - microsimulation model" is to compare the designs of selected instruments in the Czech and Finnish family policy and to assess the possibility of drawing inspiration for adjustments in the Czech system. At the beginning of this work the focus is on family policy theoretical background and developments in both countries then the microsimulation method and results of simulations are presented. The comparison and recommendations are therefore based not only on obtained theoretical knowledge but also on simulations of selected scenarios through microsimulation model