Assignment task (40% of the marks)
Low pay is widely recognised as a problem for both the individual in a low paid job and for society as a whole. It is claimed that the UK has a larger proportion of its workforce categorised as low paid than in other comparable developed economies. In this assignment task you are required to write a report (maximum 2000 words) which addresses the following
Part 1 of the report (worth 40% of the marks) requires you to provide evidence on the extent and significance of low pay in the UK and particularly to evaluate why, in comparison to other similar economies the UK experiences a bigger problem of low pay.
Based on your analysis in Part 1, Part 2 of the report (worth 60% of the marks) requires you to provide a critical analysis of possible policy responses and their likely impact on reversing the trends in income inequality. This should include evaluation of any existing policy initiatives.
The analysis in your report should be supported by relevant data, graphs and empirical evidence.
Statistical material is available through:
http://www.ons.gov.uk
http://stats.oecd.org/
Indicative reading:
Blanchflower, D. and Machin, S. (2014) ‘Falling real wages’, Centrepiece, 19(1), p19-21.
The Economist (2015) ‘The reason for low wages in Britain no one mentions’ available at http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2015/10/british-wages-and-part-time-work
The Economist (2015) ‘When what comes down doesn’t go up’, available at http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21650086-salaries-rich-countries-are-stagnating-even-growth-returns-and-politicians-are-paying
Ray, K., Foley, B. and Hughes, C.(2014) ‘Rising to the Challenge: a Policy Agenda to tackle low pay’, the Work Foundation, available at http://www.theworkfoundation.com/Reports/365/Rising-to-the-Challenge-A-policy-agenda-to-tackle-low-pay
OECD (2015) Employment Outlook 2015 available at http://www.oecd.org/employment/oecd-employment-outlook-19991266.htm
Resolution Foundation (2015) ‘Low Pay Britain 2015’ available at http://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/low-pay-britain-2015/
Resolution Foundation (2015) ‘Taking up the floor: exploring the impact of the National Living Wage on Employers’ available at http://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/taking-up-the-floor-exploring-the-impact-of-the-national-living-wage-on-employers/
Assessment criteria
1. Your use of relevant economic theories/concepts in support of your analysis.
2. Your ability to undertake critical and relevant policy evaluation
3. Your use of relevant data and empirical evidenceto support your arguments.
4. Analysis which indicates wide reading and knowledge of the academic literature (i.e. not sources such as wikipedia).
5. Your ability to express yourself coherently.
Presenting coursework for assessment
Assignments must be presented in the following format:
Assignments must be word-processed in 11 point Arial font and double spaced
All pages must be numbered
The assignment must be submitted anonymously through turnitin.
Assignments not complying with this format will be returned to students unmarked.
Assignment length
Maximum word length is 2000. Words that exceed the maximum by more than 10% will not be marked.
The specified word count refers to the main body of the report and does not include front cover, title page, contents page, reference list, and bibliography. The word count does include headings and in-text citations, but not diagrams ,tables or graphs.
It is not expected that material be attached as Appendices and inappropriate use of appendices will be taken into consideration when awarding the final mark.
Submission date and instructions
1) The Submission deadline is Tuesday 19th. April.
2) On or before the submission deadline your work should be submitted via Turnitin.
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