the average wage, the starkest reduction, followed by Hungary (minus 16 percentage points) and Bulgaria (minus 13 percentage points).43 These reductions have often been the result of the failure to adjust benefit levels to socioeconomic standards, resulting in the gradual loss of their value over time (Box 5). Other countries made remarkable efforts. The most positive change was seen in Italy: The out-of-work model family would not have qualified for support in 2012, but it would have received both social assistance and family benefits equal to almost half of the national average wage in 2022. Changes to policies and contexts have also affected the adequacy of social transfers for middle-class, two-parent households – but on average, this effect was smaller. Figure 22. Absolute change in the adequacy of social transfers (family benefits and social assistance) for two ‘model families’, 2012–2022 Italy Greece Republic of Korea Poland Spain United Kingdom Estonia New Zealand Türkiye Lithuania Belgium Malta Source: Authors’ own calculations based on OECD Tax Benefit Model. Note: Family benefits do not include income tax reductions. No data for Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Chile. The figure refers to absolute (percentage point) changes. Slovenia Portugal Germany Croatia France Netherlands (Kingdom of the) Sweden Australia Austria Canada Luxembourg Finland Norway Cyprus United States Ireland Denmark Romania Switzerland Japan Iceland Slovakia Czechia Israel Bulgaria Hungary Latvia -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 Out-of-work couple with two children Average earning couple with two children Average wage (%) 40 Child Poverty in the Midst of Wealth Innocenti Report Card 18