Public spending

The impact of caring on the income and labour market participation of carers can be substantial. In this article, the authors describe the labour force status of carers who receive an Australian Government payment directed to carers, with a particular focus on the degree to which non-employed carers want to be in paid employment.

The author comments on the lack of government funds to pay informal carers and finance adult care properly in Great Britain. He mentions that the response of the government to the imminent crisis in adult social care funding has been to establish committees to examine the care eligibility criteria as opposed to the £55 billion of funds allocated to ensure the survival of Northern Rock. He notes the low salary received by informal carers despite the fact that they save the nation about £60 billion annually.