Charles Knox-Vydmanov
@knoxvydmanov.bsky.social
Researcher, trainer, policy analyst. Social protection, disability, public finance, pensions. Independent consultant, previously ILO and HelpAge International.
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Chile just passed the biggest pension overhaul since ditching social insurance for individual accounts in 1981. A major shift in a system once seen as the poster child for privatization.
www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/...
www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/...
May 30, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Chile just passed the biggest pension overhaul since ditching social insurance for individual accounts in 1981. A major shift in a system once seen as the poster child for privatization.
www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/...
www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/...
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
This has, understandably, been overshadowed by far bigger developments
But this is interesting because, barring pensions, contributory social insurance has only ever been weakened in my years of watching these things. I’m not sure it’s ever been strengthened since the late 60s
But this is interesting because, barring pensions, contributory social insurance has only ever been weakened in my years of watching these things. I’m not sure it’s ever been strengthened since the late 60s
Excellent to hear Liz Kendall announce a consultation on time-limited contributory based benefits, paid at higher rates
Taking up proposals I developed with colleagues at the Fabians
fabians.org.uk/publication/...
Taking up proposals I developed with colleagues at the Fabians
fabians.org.uk/publication/...
In time of need | Fabian Society
Fabian Society
fabians.org.uk
March 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
This has, understandably, been overshadowed by far bigger developments
But this is interesting because, barring pensions, contributory social insurance has only ever been weakened in my years of watching these things. I’m not sure it’s ever been strengthened since the late 60s
But this is interesting because, barring pensions, contributory social insurance has only ever been weakened in my years of watching these things. I’m not sure it’s ever been strengthened since the late 60s
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
What a fantastic piece of work by Marielle Phe Goursat and @knoxvydmanov.bsky.social !
As countries strive to make #socialprotection more #inclusive, strong evidence is essential to support policy options that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
www.ilo.org/publications...
As countries strive to make #socialprotection more #inclusive, strong evidence is essential to support policy options that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
www.ilo.org/publications...
Fostering inclusion: Advancing social health protection for persons with disabilities in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam
This report explores the extent to which persons with disabilities in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam are able to access social health protection.
www.ilo.org
January 22, 2025 at 2:26 AM
What a fantastic piece of work by Marielle Phe Goursat and @knoxvydmanov.bsky.social !
As countries strive to make #socialprotection more #inclusive, strong evidence is essential to support policy options that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
www.ilo.org/publications...
As countries strive to make #socialprotection more #inclusive, strong evidence is essential to support policy options that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
www.ilo.org/publications...
This is also a mistake on much pension policy thinking globally: "pensions are popular as older people vote". A lot of younger people worry about older parents/grandparents, and about their own old age.
One public opinion mistake people make is assuming 'being tough on pensioner benefits' appeals to young people. It doesn't it appeals to young (and old) policy wonks. Most young people say i worry about my gran - and they're the most likely to say triple lock should be more generous.
January 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is also a mistake on much pension policy thinking globally: "pensions are popular as older people vote". A lot of younger people worry about older parents/grandparents, and about their own old age.
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
New Lancet article on universal #cashtransfers for children:
"universal child cash benefits should be at the forefront of the broader economic policy portfolio as an investment in a nation's health, sustainability, and global competitiveness".
Shaefer et al
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
"universal child cash benefits should be at the forefront of the broader economic policy portfolio as an investment in a nation's health, sustainability, and global competitiveness".
Shaefer et al
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
December 10, 2024 at 1:43 AM
New Lancet article on universal #cashtransfers for children:
"universal child cash benefits should be at the forefront of the broader economic policy portfolio as an investment in a nation's health, sustainability, and global competitiveness".
Shaefer et al
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
"universal child cash benefits should be at the forefront of the broader economic policy portfolio as an investment in a nation's health, sustainability, and global competitiveness".
Shaefer et al
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Wonderful nuggets from the archives of the UK's social security system 👇
I got the chance to visit the DWP archives this morning while I'm on secondment there. It was so interesting. In the snapshot I saw, there's a striking focus in earlier material on raising public awareness and take up! Some highlights.
December 9, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Wonderful nuggets from the archives of the UK's social security system 👇
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Happy Sunday! Sharing our paper on enhancing the gender-responsiveness of social protection policies, with a strong emphasis a life-cycle approach to system-building. www.ilo.org/publications...
Making social protection work for gender equality: What does it look like? How do we get there?
This paper outlines the perspective and approach of the ILO’s Universal Social Protection Department to enhancing the gender-responsiveness of social protection policies, anchored in international soc...
www.ilo.org
December 8, 2024 at 10:07 AM
Happy Sunday! Sharing our paper on enhancing the gender-responsiveness of social protection policies, with a strong emphasis a life-cycle approach to system-building. www.ilo.org/publications...
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
New paper available in open access: “How to Design a Program for the Poor that is Not a Poor Program: Explaining the Political Sustainability of the Guaranteed Income Supplement” #poverty #pensions #GIS #Canada #cdnpolitics @cpsa_acsp @OHLJ @MISCCAN digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/ohlj/vol61/i...
How to Design a Program for the Poor that is Not a Poor Program: Explaining the Political Sustainability of the Guaranteed Income Supplement
Created in 1967 as a temporary program aimed at supporting low-income people during the maturation of the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) has since become a per...
digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca
December 7, 2024 at 5:19 PM
New paper available in open access: “How to Design a Program for the Poor that is Not a Poor Program: Explaining the Political Sustainability of the Guaranteed Income Supplement” #poverty #pensions #GIS #Canada #cdnpolitics @cpsa_acsp @OHLJ @MISCCAN digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/ohlj/vol61/i...
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
On a related note, the recent (supposed) increases in economic inactivity due to ill health, and rising claims for health-related benefits, has been used to justify claims that we have a "spiralling" benefits bill.
But when we look at welfare spending forecasts *in the round*, this just isn't true
But when we look at welfare spending forecasts *in the round*, this just isn't true
December 6, 2024 at 2:54 PM
On a related note, the recent (supposed) increases in economic inactivity due to ill health, and rising claims for health-related benefits, has been used to justify claims that we have a "spiralling" benefits bill.
But when we look at welfare spending forecasts *in the round*, this just isn't true
But when we look at welfare spending forecasts *in the round*, this just isn't true
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Borrowing this chart from @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social to add a couple of points. Does the benefit system affect how people report *reasons* for economic inactivity in surveys? It's likely because there is evidence from cross national data that social & economic context influences responses. 1/n
December 6, 2024 at 1:31 PM
Borrowing this chart from @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social to add a couple of points. Does the benefit system affect how people report *reasons* for economic inactivity in surveys? It's likely because there is evidence from cross national data that social & economic context influences responses. 1/n
Bluntly defining eligibility to disability benefits based on assessed incapacity to work is problematic from a disability inclusion perspective.
However, the experience of the UK also suggests it may - perversely - push up the costs of such systems.
However, the experience of the UK also suggests it may - perversely - push up the costs of such systems.
Our benefits system is absolutely certainly one of the drivers of higher rates of long term inactivity - terrible decisions in the 2010s created a binary system that asks people to prove they are too ill to work
This is excellent from @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social. www.ft.com/content/1409... Inactivity due to long-term sickness is up, but that could be a more subjective trend than you might think. Health-related benefit take-up may be affecting long-term sickness numbers as well as the reverse.
December 6, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Bluntly defining eligibility to disability benefits based on assessed incapacity to work is problematic from a disability inclusion perspective.
However, the experience of the UK also suggests it may - perversely - push up the costs of such systems.
However, the experience of the UK also suggests it may - perversely - push up the costs of such systems.
Very cool
New SPIN update with ANNUAL data 🔥
I’m very proud to announce a new update for the Social Insurance Entitlements dataset (SIED) that includes annual data on replacement rates for unemployment, sickness, accident, and old-age benefits for 37 countries from 2000 to 2023.
www.su.se/social-polic...
I’m very proud to announce a new update for the Social Insurance Entitlements dataset (SIED) that includes annual data on replacement rates for unemployment, sickness, accident, and old-age benefits for 37 countries from 2000 to 2023.
www.su.se/social-polic...
December 5, 2024 at 11:08 PM
Very cool
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Dean Karlan of USAID highlights when to do an impact evaluation versus when to simply monitor versus when to do A/B testing.
December 3, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Dean Karlan of USAID highlights when to do an impact evaluation versus when to simply monitor versus when to do A/B testing.
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Got 30 minutes & looking for a podcast?
Here is the deal — check out what happened with #cashtransfers over the past 2500 years!
Tune in for a converation with the great Tim Phillips about my book #TimelyCash out today: lnkd.in/eHttxJKR
Thanks for having me @voxdev.bsky.social, it was lot of fun.
Here is the deal — check out what happened with #cashtransfers over the past 2500 years!
Tune in for a converation with the great Tim Phillips about my book #TimelyCash out today: lnkd.in/eHttxJKR
Thanks for having me @voxdev.bsky.social, it was lot of fun.
🔊 What can history teach us about cash transfers? How have societies used cash transfers through the ages and what role have they played in countries’ development process?
Today on VoxDevTalks, Tim Phillips speaks to @ugentilini.bsky.social @WorldBank about his new book: voxdev.org/topic/instit...
Today on VoxDevTalks, Tim Phillips speaks to @ugentilini.bsky.social @WorldBank about his new book: voxdev.org/topic/instit...
December 3, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Got 30 minutes & looking for a podcast?
Here is the deal — check out what happened with #cashtransfers over the past 2500 years!
Tune in for a converation with the great Tim Phillips about my book #TimelyCash out today: lnkd.in/eHttxJKR
Thanks for having me @voxdev.bsky.social, it was lot of fun.
Here is the deal — check out what happened with #cashtransfers over the past 2500 years!
Tune in for a converation with the great Tim Phillips about my book #TimelyCash out today: lnkd.in/eHttxJKR
Thanks for having me @voxdev.bsky.social, it was lot of fun.
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!
December 3, 2024 at 8:22 AM
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
The Global Wages Elephant chart?
Check the new ILO Global Wage Report 2024-25: www.ilo.org/publications...
Check the new ILO Global Wage Report 2024-25: www.ilo.org/publications...
December 2, 2024 at 9:41 AM
The Global Wages Elephant chart?
Check the new ILO Global Wage Report 2024-25: www.ilo.org/publications...
Check the new ILO Global Wage Report 2024-25: www.ilo.org/publications...
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Walter Korpi revolutionized social policy research by highlighting the power dynamics behind welfare states, introducing the “power resources theory,” which links class-based mobilization to welfare outcomes. RIP www.su.se/swedish-inst...
Professor Walter Korpi Passes Away at 90 - Swedish Institute for Social Research
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of an outstanding sociologist and a vital contributor to SOFI’s success. Professor Emeritus Walter Korpi passed away on November 19, at t...
www.su.se
November 28, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Walter Korpi revolutionized social policy research by highlighting the power dynamics behind welfare states, introducing the “power resources theory,” which links class-based mobilization to welfare outcomes. RIP www.su.se/swedish-inst...
Great development for someone like me who is interested in issues of poverty measurement and social protection (and also a lover of maps)!
The likes of Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree were pioneers in the development of surveys that are core to our understanding of poverty and inequality.
The likes of Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree were pioneers in the development of surveys that are core to our understanding of poverty and inequality.
Public service announcement that Charles Booth's 'Maps Descriptive of London Poverty, 1898-9' have been uploaded by LSE archive online to be viewed and reproduced freely. 🗃️ unsplash.com/collections/...
November 28, 2024 at 11:28 AM
Great development for someone like me who is interested in issues of poverty measurement and social protection (and also a lover of maps)!
The likes of Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree were pioneers in the development of surveys that are core to our understanding of poverty and inequality.
The likes of Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree were pioneers in the development of surveys that are core to our understanding of poverty and inequality.
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
🚨 New Blog! 🚨
GDP is everywhere in development. But in Zambia in 2010, the national accounts were prepared by just one (1!) person. How much can we trust developing country GDP?
A 🧵 and post on Morten Jerven's 2013 classic, Poor Numbers, on how African GDP is actually made—
GDP is everywhere in development. But in Zambia in 2010, the national accounts were prepared by just one (1!) person. How much can we trust developing country GDP?
A 🧵 and post on Morten Jerven's 2013 classic, Poor Numbers, on how African GDP is actually made—
November 27, 2024 at 7:46 PM
🚨 New Blog! 🚨
GDP is everywhere in development. But in Zambia in 2010, the national accounts were prepared by just one (1!) person. How much can we trust developing country GDP?
A 🧵 and post on Morten Jerven's 2013 classic, Poor Numbers, on how African GDP is actually made—
GDP is everywhere in development. But in Zambia in 2010, the national accounts were prepared by just one (1!) person. How much can we trust developing country GDP?
A 🧵 and post on Morten Jerven's 2013 classic, Poor Numbers, on how African GDP is actually made—
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Ask people to devise a package of #socialprotection schemes + give them a simple costing tool 🛠️ to play with to help co-create their vision 💭
Simple but powerful! 💪
The learning continues in #Dakar on day 3️⃣ of our #publicfinance course.
Simple but powerful! 💪
The learning continues in #Dakar on day 3️⃣ of our #publicfinance course.
November 27, 2024 at 7:39 PM
Ask people to devise a package of #socialprotection schemes + give them a simple costing tool 🛠️ to play with to help co-create their vision 💭
Simple but powerful! 💪
The learning continues in #Dakar on day 3️⃣ of our #publicfinance course.
Simple but powerful! 💪
The learning continues in #Dakar on day 3️⃣ of our #publicfinance course.
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
Yes! Would have been another great example for our paper on Pushing the Boundaries of Social Protection Administrative Data Analysis and Use! ;) socialprotection.org/discover/pub... --> bsky.app/profile/knox...
November 27, 2024 at 8:12 AM
Yes! Would have been another great example for our paper on Pushing the Boundaries of Social Protection Administrative Data Analysis and Use! ;) socialprotection.org/discover/pub... --> bsky.app/profile/knox...
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
If you see something interesting and want your followers to also see it, hitting like will not help. This is not twitter. Retweet is the way to spread stuff.
November 26, 2024 at 3:44 PM
If you see something interesting and want your followers to also see it, hitting like will not help. This is not twitter. Retweet is the way to spread stuff.
Really striking findings, and also highlights the potential of administrative data for long-run impact evaluation of social protection schemes. @valentinabarca.bsky.social
When thinking of "food stamps", think of helping children earn more as adults.
In the US, receiving food stamps from conception through age 5 increases earnings for women at age 32 by approximately 15.6% or $3,966.
Bitler and Figinski
www.nber.org/system/files...
In the US, receiving food stamps from conception through age 5 increases earnings for women at age 32 by approximately 15.6% or $3,966.
Bitler and Figinski
www.nber.org/system/files...
November 26, 2024 at 10:25 PM
Really striking findings, and also highlights the potential of administrative data for long-run impact evaluation of social protection schemes. @valentinabarca.bsky.social
Reposted by Charles Knox-Vydmanov
spent some months collecting novel data on unemployment insurance coverage in (mostly) Global South Economies and the development over the last 30 years is quite something
November 26, 2024 at 2:55 PM
spent some months collecting novel data on unemployment insurance coverage in (mostly) Global South Economies and the development over the last 30 years is quite something