Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Producing an Anti-Poverty Strategy for the UK - Evidence Reviews

JRF commissioned over 30 evidence and policy reviews to better understand the existing body of knowledge on issues influencing poverty. Each of these thirty-three reviews examine the links between poverty and a specific policy area, and in particular looks for evidence about effective solutions in policy and practice.


Poverty, Credit and debt: an expert-led review

Authors: Yvette Hartfree and Sharon Collard 
Funded by: Joseph Rowntree Foundation 
Published by: University of Bristol 
Publication date: March 2014

This research reviews the evidence on the links between debt, credit and poverty. Consumer credit is a part of everyday life for many people, helping to smooth the ebbs and flows of income and expenditure and manage financial resources flexibly. However, the concern is that use of consumer credit, particularly use of high-cost credit, can lead to financial difficulties and over-indebtedness.

This review seeks to unpick the research evidence to provide an over-view of the extent to which problem debt and consumer credit use cause poverty; and the extent to which poverty results in problem debt and consumer credit use.

The review addresses three core questions:

  1. What is the relationship between debt, credit and poverty in the UK?
  2. How can credit and debt policies and practice interventions reduce and prevent poverty - what is the evidence on what works?
  3. What interventions and strategies are recommended for inclusion in an anti-poverty strategy for the UK?

Poverty, debt and credit: An expert-led review (PDF, 496kB)


Savings, Assets, Wealth and Poverty

Authors: Beverley A Searle and Stephan Köppe
Funded by: Joseph Rowntree Foundation 
Published by: University of Bristol, Personal Finance Research Centre
Publication date: August 2014

This review examines the evidence on the extent to which savings, assets and wealth can provide a safety net against unexpected expenses or drops in income. It also looks at whether holding assets changes people's thinking and whether they become more responsible and forward-looking.

Assets, savings and wealth, and poverty: A review of evidence (PDF, 903kB)


Further information on all 33 reviews commissioned by JRF [External Link]

Edit this page