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The Public Policy Preference Calculator (TriplePC): Developing a comprehensive welfare policy microsimulation

  1. Graham Stark
  2. Elliot A Johnson
  3. Howard Reed
  4. Daniel Nettle
  5. Matthew T Johnson  Is a corresponding author
  1. Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, Northumbria University, United Kingdom
  2. Landman Economics, United Kingdom
  3. Institut Jean Nicod, École normale supérieure, France
Research article
Cite this article as: G. Stark, E. A Johnson, H. Reed, D. Nettle, M. T Johnson; 2025; The Public Policy Preference Calculator (TriplePC): Developing a comprehensive welfare policy microsimulation; International Journal of Microsimulation; 18(2); 79-93. doi: 10.34196/ijm.00323
1 figure and 1 table

Figures

TriplePC interface example scenario.

Tables

Table 1
Conjoint experiment attributes and levels used as TriplePC inputs and outcomes.
AttributeLevels
Payment size
  • Child - £0; Adult - £63; Pensioner - £190

  • Child - £41; Adult - £63; Pensioner - £190

  • Child - £0; Adult - £145; Pensioner - £190

  • Child - £41; Adult - £145; Pensioner - £190

  • Child - £63; Adult - £145; Pensioner - £190

  • Child - £63; Adult - £190; Pensioner - £190

  • Child - £95; Adult - £190; Pensioner - £230

  • Child - £41; Adult - £230; Pensioner - £230

  • Child - £95; Adult - £230; Pensioner - £230

Income tax
  • Basic rate - 20%; Higher rate - 40%; Additional rate - 45%

  • Basic rate - 30%; Higher rate - 50%; Additional rate - 60%

  • Basic rate - 40%; Higher rate - 60%; Additional rate - 70%

  • Basic rate - 48%; Higher rate - 68%; Additional rate - 78%

  • Basic rate - 50%; Higher rate - 70%; Additional rate - 80%

  • Basic rate - 65%; Higher rate - 85%; Additional rate - 95%

Other funding
  • Increased government borrowing

  • Removal of income tax-free personal allowance

  • Corporation tax increase

  • Tax for businesses based on carbon emissions

  • Tax for individuals based on carbon emissions

  • Tax on wealth

  • VAT increase

Poverty
  • Decreased by 100%

  • Decreased by 75%

  • Decreased by 50%

  • Decreased by 25%

  • Decreased by 10%

  • Decreased by 5%

  • Increased by 5%

  • Increased by 10%

  • Increased by 25%

  • Increased by 50%

Inequality
  • Decreased by 50%

  • Decreased by 25%

  • Decreased by 10%

  • Decreased by 5%

  • Increased by 5%

  • Increased by 10%

  • Increased by 25%

  • Increased by 50%

Life expectancy
  • 0 more or less years on average

  • 5 fewer years on average

  • 3 fewer years on average

  • 1 less year on average

  • 1 more year on average

  • 3 more years on average

  • 5 more years on average

Anxiety and depression
  • Same number of cases

  • 50% fewer cases

  • 25% fewer cases

  • 10% fewer cases

  • 5% fewer cases

  • 5% more cases

  • 10% more cases

  • 25% more cases

  • 50% more cases

Conditionality
  • People in and out of work are entitled

  • People who are not disabled are required to look for work

  • Only people in work are entitled

  • Only people out of work are entitled

Means testing
  • People with any or no amount of income are entitled to the full benefit

  • Only those with incomes less than £20k are entitled to the full benefit

  • Only those with incomes less than £50k are entitled to the full benefit

  • Only those with incomes less than £125k are entitled to the full benefit

Universality
  • Anyone residing in the UK for more than six months are entitled

  • Only citizens and permanent residents are entitled

  • Only citizens are entitled

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