Distributional impacts of public policies : essays in ex-ante and ex-post evaluation

This PhD thesis is a series of essays on disparities in healthcare use in Luxembourg, as well as poverty and inequality effects of cash transfers to families in Lithuania. In light of the ever increasing pressures on national budgets, finding efficient and effective public policies is a major challenge – both politically and research wise. For example, diverse and up-to-date information sources must be analysed, using appropriate policy tools, such as national tax-benefit microsimulation models – so that time relevant policy evaluations are made. Furthermore, most public policies, as well as their impacts, are highly national contexts specific. This has ensuing implications for an exchange of “good practices” across the countries.