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Local Taxation, Wealth and Citizenship, 2004

This project, funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (award reference RES-000-22-0597), investigated two inter-related issues. First, the project explored the relationship between property values and incomes especially in relation to higher value properties, asking: what is the relationship between incomes and property values for the occupiers of higher value properties; is there evidence of the occupiers of such properties being wealth rich but income poor; can existing datasets be mined to provide information on the relationship between incomes and property values? Second, the payment of tax raises the issue of citizenship obligation so the project, with its focus on higher value properties, also examined the broader theme of citizenship, responsibility and wealth. In particular, the project examined whether wealthy citizens have withdrawn from civic engagement and the potential implications for social citizenship, of which taxation is an inherent part.

Project outputs

Orton, M. and Davies, R. (2009) ‘Exploring neglected dimensions of social policy: the Social Division of Welfare (SDW), fiscal welfare and the exemplar of local taxation in England’ Social Policy and Administration 43 (1) 35-53.

Davies, R., Orton, M. and Bosworth, D. (2007) ‘Local taxation and the relationship between incomes and property values’ Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 25 (5) 756–772.

Orton, M. (2006) ‘How to help people pay local tax: abolish council tax benefit?’ Benefits 14 (1) 19-25.

Orton, M. (2006) ‘Wealth, citizenship and responsibility: the views of better off citizens in the UK’ Citizenship Studies 10 (2) 251-265.

Orton, M. (2004) ‘Wealth rich but income poor?’ The relationship between household income and property value, Coventry: Warwick Institute for Employment Research.

Orton, M. (2004) Citizenship, responsibility and community: the views of ‘better off’ citizens, Coventry: Warwick Institute for Employment Research.

Related IER research and publications

Council tax debt: exploring a hidden ‘crisis’

Orton, M. (2005) ‘Inequality and the reform of a regressive local tax: the debate in the UK’ Social Policy and Society 4 (3) 255-272.

Orton M. (2002) ‘Council Tax: who benefits?’ Benefits 10 (2) 110-115.

Income Inequality: making sense of British social attitudes

IER Researcher:

Michael Orton