Ebook: Poverty and Exclusion in the Western Balkans: New Directions in Measurement and Policy

​This book maps the latest developments in the policy relevant analysis on poverty, inclusion and the social agenda in the Western Balkans. It does so by presenting a selection of recent papers which explore from a methodological and analytical point of view how the inclusion agenda can be monitored and adapted to understand the challenges in the region. The volume includes an overview and four sections, covering respectively: (1) innovations in terms of measurement of poverty and inclusion in the region (the concept of inclusion as elaborated at the EU level, innovations in survey design to suit the measurement of inclusion, methodological insights from qualitative work); (2) innovative country level analysis (updating poverty mapping in inter-censual years, the analysis of material deprivation, the analysis of determinants of social inclusion, subjective wellbeing of public work programs participants); (3) examples of country level analysis of drivers of exclusion (barriers to formalization in the labour market, gender disparities in the labour market, disruption in social networks following urbanizations, attitudes towards multi-ethnic states); (4) building inclusive safety nets (an assessment of safety nets in the region, the political economy of welfare reform, micro-simulations of social assistance reform, the adoption of better tools to improve targeting performance). The chapters combine sophisticated techniques which are at the frontiers of poverty analysis (small area estimation, efficiency analysis applied to household welfare, micro-simulations) with less ground-breaking papers which take advantage of innovative datasets or perspectives deeply grounded in the policy dialogue in the countries of the region. By providing a wide spectrum of innovative and policy relevant analytical contributions this book will be of broader interest than for observers of the region. ​

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This book maps the latest developments in the policy relevant analysis on poverty, inclusion and the social agenda in the Western Balkans. It does so by presenting a selection of recent papers which explore from a methodological and analytical point of view how the inclusion agenda can be monitored and adapted to understand the challenges in the region. The volume includes an overview and four sections, covering respectively: (1) innovations in terms of measurement of poverty and inclusion in the region (the concept of inclusion as elaborated at the EU level, innovations in survey design to suit the measurement of inclusion, methodological insights from qualitative work); (2) innovative country level analysis (updating poverty mapping in inter-censual years, the analysis of material deprivation, the analysis of determinants of social inclusion, subjective wellbeing of public work programs participants); (3) examples of country level analysis of drivers of exclusion (barriers to formalization in the labour market, gender disparities in the labour market, disruption in social networks following urbanizations, attitudes towards multi-ethnic states); (4) building inclusive safety nets (an assessment of safety nets in the region, the political economy of welfare reform, micro-simulations of social assistance reform, the adoption of better tools to improve targeting performance). The chapters combine sophisticated techniques which are at the frontiers of poverty analysis (small area estimation, efficiency analysis applied to household welfare, micro-simulations) with less ground-breaking papers which take advantage of innovative datasets or perspectives deeply grounded in the policy dialogue in the countries of the region. By providing a wide spectrum of innovative and policy relevant analytical contributions this book will be of broader interest than for observers of the region.

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This book maps the latest developments in the policy relevant analysis on poverty, inclusion and the social agenda in the Western Balkans. It does so by presenting a selection of recent papers which explore from a methodological and analytical point of view how the inclusion agenda can be monitored and adapted to understand the challenges in the region. The volume includes an overview and four sections, covering respectively: (1) innovations in terms of measurement of poverty and inclusion in the region (the concept of inclusion as elaborated at the EU level, innovations in survey design to suit the measurement of inclusion, methodological insights from qualitative work); (2) innovative country level analysis (updating poverty mapping in inter-censual years, the analysis of material deprivation, the analysis of determinants of social inclusion, subjective wellbeing of public work programs participants); (3) examples of country level analysis of drivers of exclusion (barriers to formalization in the labour market, gender disparities in the labour market, disruption in social networks following urbanizations, attitudes towards multi-ethnic states); (4) building inclusive safety nets (an assessment of safety nets in the region, the political economy of welfare reform, micro-simulations of social assistance reform, the adoption of better tools to improve targeting performance). The chapters combine sophisticated techniques which are at the frontiers of poverty analysis (small area estimation, efficiency analysis applied to household welfare, micro-simulations) with less ground-breaking papers which take advantage of innovative datasets or perspectives deeply grounded in the policy dialogue in the countries of the region. By providing a wide spectrum of innovative and policy relevant analytical contributions this book will be of broader interest than for observers of the region.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Overview: Poverty and Exclusion in the Western Balkans: New Directions in Policy and Analysis....Pages 1-11
The European Context: Measuring Social Inclusion in the European Union....Pages 13-27
Measuring Poverty in the Western Balkans: Recent Trends and New Challenges....Pages 29-38
Qualitative Research to Support the Analysis of Social Inclusion in the Western Balkans....Pages 39-54
Updating Poverty Maps Between Censuses: A Case Study of Albania....Pages 55-70
Social Exclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina....Pages 71-98
On Measuring Social Exclusion: A New Approach with an Application to FYR Macedonia....Pages 99-116
Subjective Well-Being, Activation Policies, and the Inclusion Agenda....Pages 117-131
Does Formal Work Pay in Serbia? The Role of Labor Taxes and Social Benefit Design in Providing Disincentives for Formal Work....Pages 133-154
Not Just Education: The Gender Wage Gap in the Albanian Labor Markets Through Occupational Segregation, Work Experience, and Child Care....Pages 155-176
Internal Migration in Albania and the Changes in Transfers Received from Family and Friends: A Study of Internal Migrants in Peri-Urban Tirana....Pages 177-202
Together or Apart? Attitudes Towards Multi-ethnic State and Ethnically Mixed Communities in Post-independence Kosovo....Pages 203-219
Social Safety Nets in the Western Balkans: Design, Implementation, and Performance....Pages 221-243
The Political Economy of Welfare Reform in the Western Balkans....Pages 245-259
Simulating Policy Reform: Distributional and Poverty Outcomes of the New Social Welfare Law in Serbia....Pages 261-281
Improving the Targeting of Social Assistance in Albania: Evidence from Micro-simulations....Pages 283-298

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This book maps the latest developments in the policy relevant analysis on poverty, inclusion and the social agenda in the Western Balkans. It does so by presenting a selection of recent papers which explore from a methodological and analytical point of view how the inclusion agenda can be monitored and adapted to understand the challenges in the region. The volume includes an overview and four sections, covering respectively: (1) innovations in terms of measurement of poverty and inclusion in the region (the concept of inclusion as elaborated at the EU level, innovations in survey design to suit the measurement of inclusion, methodological insights from qualitative work); (2) innovative country level analysis (updating poverty mapping in inter-censual years, the analysis of material deprivation, the analysis of determinants of social inclusion, subjective wellbeing of public work programs participants); (3) examples of country level analysis of drivers of exclusion (barriers to formalization in the labour market, gender disparities in the labour market, disruption in social networks following urbanizations, attitudes towards multi-ethnic states); (4) building inclusive safety nets (an assessment of safety nets in the region, the political economy of welfare reform, micro-simulations of social assistance reform, the adoption of better tools to improve targeting performance). The chapters combine sophisticated techniques which are at the frontiers of poverty analysis (small area estimation, efficiency analysis applied to household welfare, micro-simulations) with less ground-breaking papers which take advantage of innovative datasets or perspectives deeply grounded in the policy dialogue in the countries of the region. By providing a wide spectrum of innovative and policy relevant analytical contributions this book will be of broader interest than for observers of the region.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Overview: Poverty and Exclusion in the Western Balkans: New Directions in Policy and Analysis....Pages 1-11
The European Context: Measuring Social Inclusion in the European Union....Pages 13-27
Measuring Poverty in the Western Balkans: Recent Trends and New Challenges....Pages 29-38
Qualitative Research to Support the Analysis of Social Inclusion in the Western Balkans....Pages 39-54
Updating Poverty Maps Between Censuses: A Case Study of Albania....Pages 55-70
Social Exclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina....Pages 71-98
On Measuring Social Exclusion: A New Approach with an Application to FYR Macedonia....Pages 99-116
Subjective Well-Being, Activation Policies, and the Inclusion Agenda....Pages 117-131
Does Formal Work Pay in Serbia? The Role of Labor Taxes and Social Benefit Design in Providing Disincentives for Formal Work....Pages 133-154
Not Just Education: The Gender Wage Gap in the Albanian Labor Markets Through Occupational Segregation, Work Experience, and Child Care....Pages 155-176
Internal Migration in Albania and the Changes in Transfers Received from Family and Friends: A Study of Internal Migrants in Peri-Urban Tirana....Pages 177-202
Together or Apart? Attitudes Towards Multi-ethnic State and Ethnically Mixed Communities in Post-independence Kosovo....Pages 203-219
Social Safety Nets in the Western Balkans: Design, Implementation, and Performance....Pages 221-243
The Political Economy of Welfare Reform in the Western Balkans....Pages 245-259
Simulating Policy Reform: Distributional and Poverty Outcomes of the New Social Welfare Law in Serbia....Pages 261-281
Improving the Targeting of Social Assistance in Albania: Evidence from Micro-simulations....Pages 283-298
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