Poverty and Social Protection in Bulgaria

July 31, 2020

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Jean-Jacques Hallaert. Poverty and Social Protection in Bulgaria, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2020) accessed September 20, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

Absolute poverty has dropped markedly in Bulgaria but income inequality has increased substantially in the aftermath of the GFC. This increase is due to a rise in market income inequality that was compounded by a reduction in fiscal redistribution. The redistributive role of direct taxation has declined with the introduction of a flat tax and social spending is relatively low and decreasing (as a share of GDP), is concentrated on a few social risks, and experienced a decline in its redistributive efficiency. The COVID-19 crisis is likely to deepen income inequality, increasing the room for redistributive policies.

Subject: Fiscal redistribution, Income, Income distribution, Income inequality, National accounts, Poverty

Keywords: Bulgaria, Cash income, Eastern Europe, EU average, EU spending, Europe, European Union, Fiscal redistribution, Income, Income distribution, Income inequality, Inequality, Inequality in Bulgaria, Poverty, Share ratio, Social Protection, Test level, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

34
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2020/147
Stock No:

WPIEA2020147
ISBN:

9781513550190
ISSN:

1018-5941

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