. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, a data set corresponding to Galician municipalities is used to test asymmetries in the effects of cuts and increases in grants on total spending. Then political factors (electoral cycle, colour and political strength of local governments) and...

. Deciding on over what period should household income be measured in order to assess poverty may have significant effects on the incidence, the characterisation of poverty and its persistence. In general, there are two possible household income variables available in household surveys: Annual...

. The literature on economic income disribution has largely debated the issue of which is the best indicator of individual welfare: income or consumption. The implications of the choice are not only a matter for theoretical discussion but are clearly very relevant when undertaking any empirical...