Impact of in-kind benefits on income distribution and on vulnerable populations

Forthcoming EU call topic HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-02 · HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions. Part of call HORIZON-CL2-2027-01: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society - 2027. Opens 2027-05-13; next deadline 2027-09-23. Topic page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-02

Expected Outcome: Projects should contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: - Policy makers get a mapping of in-kind benefits across Member States and a comprehensive measurement framework. - Policy makers gain insights on the availability of in-kind services, on potential gaps in their provision, and on reasons for non-take up. - Policy makers gain insights into the redistributive role of in-kind benefits and on the segregation of different social groups, through SSH research. - Policy makers receive operational advice to make informed policy choices which reduce inequality and strengthen fairness and cohesion.

Scope: In-kind benefits refer to non-cash goods and services provided to individuals or households, typically by the government (national, regional and/or local), to support their well-being or fulfil basic needs. Unlike cash transfers, which can be spent at the recipient's discretion, in-kind benefits ensure that resources are used for specific purposes for free or at a subsidised cost (e.g. food banks, social housing, health and long-term care services, childcare, schooling, sport infrastructure, public transport). Despite the wide range of in-kind benefits, there is poor empirical knowledge basis of the impact of in-kind benefits (except for healthcare) on the income distribution and on vulnerable groups, unlike the impact of cash benefits. Research activities may focus, as a baseline, on establishing a full mapping of in-kind benefits (both for free and at a subsidised cost, universal and means-tested) provided by national, regional and local governments. This mapping,…