“..Universal support – called ‘dopey’ by Prime Minister – seen as key to lowering poverty among the young.
One of the world’s leading welfare experts has swung in behind a proposed universal payment for all young children that was dismissed as “dopey” by Prime Minister John Key.
Professor Peter Saunders, an Australian who chairs the Foundation for International Studies on Social Security, told a workshop in Auckland yesterday that global research on “what works” had found a universal child payment was one of three key factors to reduce child poverty.
The other two were high parental employment and high wages.
He said a universal payment created popular backing for supporting children and led to higher levels of support.
In contrast – highly targeted payments tended to be low.
“Programmes that are targeted to the poor tend to end up being poor programmes,” he said…”
(cont..)
go to source/story>>>
Expert backs generous child payment for all – National – NZ Herald News.
