This paper by the Institute for Fiscal Studies compares three policies that have been recently suggested which would change the way that families with children are treated by the tax and benefit system.

The suggestions are:

• a transferable personal income tax allowance, restricted to the basic rate, and restricted to couples with children who are married (or in a civil partnership) rather than cohabiting;
• increasing the value of the working tax credit for couples with children;
• increasing the value of the child element of the child tax credit.

The paper is available to download from the Institute for Fiscal Studies website.