A multi-country systematic review of research on sanctions and equity in social welfare programs

Abstract

Social welfare programs have increasingly implemented work requirements, with punitive measures such as sanctions to enforce compliance. Frontline workers, operating in public environments with limited resources, have discretion over when to issue sanctions and often use short cuts, sometimes guided by bias, to manage caseloads. This study conducts a multi-country systematic literature review of research related to who gets sanctioned and why with a focus on the experiences of racial, ethnic, and immigrant groups. Through our review of 23 studies, we find that there are significant disparities in sanction use and experience, and that differences are shaped by both frontline and institutional practice. While disparities were highlighted across programs, impacted groups differed based on geopolitical and historical contexts. We summarise findings across studies to provide insights into creating more equitable welfare policies and programs and offer suggestions for future research.