A new study led by the University of Glasgow will assess which government income support policies can improve population health over the life course, with a particular focus on reducing child poverty to improve health outcomes.

The project, called MicMac, will look at the long-term health impacts of major income support policies - such as living wage and basic income - by linking economic and health outcomes in simulations. The aim is to find which policies are both effective and publicly acceptable.

Researchers say poverty, especially in childhood, plays a key role in shaping health outcomes. However, it’s still unclear which support measures work best. The project will involve citizens in designing policy scenarios and use advanced micro and macro modelling to simulate how different policies might affect health and inequality across the UK population.

Dr Daniel Kopasker, lead researcher said: “We know that the economic circumstances of individuals and households are major drivers of health and health inequalities. Policymakers have expressed a need for actionable evidence but there have been barriers to providing this. Through the use of simulation modelling, MicMac can overcome these barriers to provide actionable evidence to address government priorities, such as reducing child poverty rates.”

The research is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Essex, University of Manchester, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, and the Poverty Alliance. It is funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Project title: Evaluating the impact of major income support policies on health inequalities across the life course: a micro-macro linked modelling study (MicMac).

 

First published: 6 October 2025

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