Sophia Parker

Sophia writes for Left Foot Forward on economic inequality and the impact of government policies on different social classes. She is a Research Associate at the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and previously worked for the Resolution Foundation, as Director of Policy and Research and then Acting Director.

Good Society

IDS should proceed with caution when looking to emulate US welfare reforms

This week we’ve learnt that Number 10 welcomed American welfare gurus for tea to advise on the forthcoming White Paper. Given the all-time high of 43.6 million Americans living in poverty, and a US unemployment rate that is almost double what was considered the norm in better times, what should work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith take as the real lessons of the American welfare reform story?

Sophia Parker ·

How the recession is hitting low earning households hardest

UK’s 7.2 million low-paid, low-skilled workers at the sharp end of a flexible and global service economy who are being hit hardest by the recession. Those who do hold on to their jobs are finding the recession is limiting their already slim chances of accessing training. While low earners are facing significantly higher levels of inflation than richer groups.

Sophia Parker ·

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