Thank you very much, all of you, for the very many prompt and helpful
replies you have sent. I am suitably reproached for not doing my homework
properly, since one friend pointed out that the whole subject is extensively
set out by Alan Deacon and Jonathan Bradshaw in their book [1983], 'Reserved
for the Poor', Blackwell and Robertson, Oxford. Chapter 8 points out that it
was Brian Abel-Smith who first noted [1968] the marginal tax rate effects of
benefit withdrawal. But the term itself was first used by David Piachaud in
a paper in 1971, followed by the publication by Frank Field and David
Piachaud. The key references are --
F Field and D Piachaud [1971], "The poverty trap", New Statesman 3 December,
pp 772-773.
D Piachaud [1971], "Poverty and taxation", The Political Quarterly 42, pp
31-44. This was reprinted as chapter 5 in a book: B Crick and W Robson
[eds][1973], 'Taxation Policy', Harmondsworth, Penguin Books.
The poverty plateau interpretation was developed by Jonathan Bradshaw and
published in --
J Bradshaw and I Wakeman [1972], "The poverty trap updated", Political
Quarterly 43, pp 459-469.
J Bradshaw [1975], "Poverty plateau", Poverty [CPAG journal] 29, pp 10-11.
J Bradshaw [1980], "Equity and family incomes", Family Policy Studies
Centre, London.
I do appreciate the trouble you have all taken to reply, and hope that this
is some recompense for those who didn't have all these references
themselves.
John VW.
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From Professor J H Veit-Wilson
Sociology and Social Policy
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, England.
Telephones: office -- 0044 or 0-191-222-7498; fax-7497.
home -- 0044 or 0-191-266-2428.
email <[log in to unmask]>
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