Analysis

What's Housing Benefit For?

Analysis

Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, asks why Britain spends such vast sums on Housing Benefit - now £25 billion. He examines the history of these payments and how government funding for house-building has gradually changed into subsidies for rents, especially to private landlords. 40% of tenants in private housing receive Housing Benefit. Critics argue that these have distorted the market and failed to address the fundamental shortage of housing supply. Paul asks how we got here and whether anything can change. Producer: Adam Bowen.

Next Episodes

Analysis

Free Movement: Britain's Burning EU debate @ Analysis

📆 2015-07-20 22:00 / 00:27:55


Analysis

Populism @ Analysis

📆 2015-07-13 22:00 / 00:28:14


Analysis

Why do American police kill so many black men? @ Analysis

📆 2015-07-06 22:00 / 00:27:46


Analysis

Samuel Scheffler on the Afterlife @ Analysis

📆 2015-06-29 22:00 / 00:28:03


Analysis

Is it Time for the Internet to Grow Up? @ Analysis

📆 2015-06-26 17:05 / 00:28:08