Premium
Simplicity versus Fairness in Means Testing: The Case of Civil Legal Aid
Author(s) -
Buck Alexy,
Stark Graham
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fiscal studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1475-5890
pISSN - 0143-5671
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-5890.2003.tb00090.x
Subject(s) - payment , test (biology) , simplicity , actuarial science , economics , state (computer science) , civil procedure , law and economics , law , public economics , business , political science , computer science , finance , paleontology , philosophy , epistemology , algorithm , biology
For most state financial benefits, the making of any payment, or its level, depends upon a means test to assess the applicant's income or wealth. Attempts to make such tests fair often lead to procedures that are complicated to administer and confusing for the applicant. This paper describes the analysis underlying a review of means testing for civil legal aid in England and Wales, to achieve considerable simplification without sacrificing fairness.