Professor Abigail Davis

Pronouns: She/her
  • Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Social Policy
  • Professor of Practice
Photo of Abigail Davis wearing a grey shirt and v-neck jumper.

I joined CRSP in 1998.  My key area of interest is the application and development of the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) methodology, which has been my focus since 2006.  I lead the management and delivery of the core primary research on MIS, working with the team to conduct deliberative groups, compile and price budgets and analyse the findings. 

Using MIS as a starting point, my research has included looking at the additional and different costs of people in various locations, including households living in , , London and the States of Guernsey, and studies on the needs of foster carers and people living with sensory impairments.

I design, develop and deliver bespoke training in MIS methods for researchers in other countries, including work with teams on MIS projects in Austria, France, , Japan, Portugal, , Mexico,  and Thailand.

My main research interests include lifestyles and living standards, poverty, inequality and social exclusion, budget standards and income adequacy.

  • Davis, A., Blackwell, C., Ellis, W., Padley, M., Stone, J. and Balchin, E. (2024) .  York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Yates, S., Hill, K., Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Padley, M., Stone, E., Polizzi, G., D’Arcy, J., Harris, R., Sheppard, P., Singleton, A., Ye, Z., Carmi, E. and Garikipati, S. (2024)   Liverpool: University of Liverpool.
  • Yates, S., Hill, K., Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Padley, M., Stone, E., Polizzi, G., D’Arcy, J., Harris, R., Sheppard, P., Singleton, A., Ye, Z., Carmi, E. and Garikipati, S. (2024)  . Liverpool: University of Liverpool.
  • Padley, M., Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Hill, K. and Stone, J. (2024) Retirement living standards in the UK in 2023.  London: Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
  • Padley, M., Davis, A., Blackwell, C., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2023) . London: Trust for London
  • Padley, M. and Davis, A. (2023) .  London: Child Poverty Action Group
  • Blackwell, C., Davis, A., Hill, K., Padley, M. and Yates, S. (2023) A UK Minimum Digital Living Standard for Households with Children. Â鶹ֱ²¥: Centre for Research in Social Policy
  • Yates, S., Hill, K., Blackwell, C., Stone, E., Polizzia, G., Harris, R., D’Arcya, J., Davis, A., Padley, M., Roberts, D., Lovell, J. and Lainge, H. (2023)  Cardiff: Welsh Government
  • Hecht, K., Burchardt, T. and Davis, A. (2022) . Journal of Social Policy, 1-22. doi:10.1017/S0047279422000617
  • Davis, A., Stone, J., Blackwell, C., Padley, M., Shepherd, C. and Hirsch, D. (2022) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Davis, A., Bryan, A., Hirsch, D., Ellen, J., Shepherd, C. and Padley, M. (2021) Edinburgh: Scottish Government
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2021) A Minimum Income Standard in the UK for 2021.  York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Padley, M., Davis, A., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2021) . London: Trust for London.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2020)  York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
  • Padley, M. and Davis, A. (2020) '’ in C. Deeming (ed.) Minimum Income Standards and Reference Budgets: international and comparative policy perspectives. Bristol: Policy Press
  • Davis, A., Hecht, K., Burchardt, T., Gough, I., Hirsch, D., Rowlingson, K. and Summers, K. (2020)  London: Trust for London.
  • Hill, K., Hirsch, D., and Davis, A. (2020) .  Social Policy and Society, 1-16.  Doi:10.1017/S1474746420000184
  • Padley, M., Davis, A., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2019) . London: Trust for London.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2018) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Hill, K. and Davis, A. (2018) Making Ends Meet Below the Minimum Income Standard: families’ experiences over time.  Â鶹ֱ²¥: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
  • Davis, A. and Padley, M. (2017) 'What the Minimum Income Standard Tells Us About Living Standards in the United Kingdom' in Fee, D. and Kober-Smith, A. (eds.) Inequalities in the UK: New Discourses, Evolutions and Actions. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Ltd.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D. and Padley, M. (2017) ‘The Minimum Income Standard as a benchmark of a ‘participatory social minimum’’, Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. 
  • Padley, M., Davis, A. Hirsch, D., Horsley, N. and Valadez, L. (2017) . London: Trust for London.
  • Byaruhanga, C., Davis, A., Mpike, M., Ntshongwana, P., Padley, M., Wright, G. and Zembe-Mkabile, W. (2017) . Cape Town: SASPRI.
  • Davis, A., Hill, K., Hirsch, D. and Padley, M. (2016) .  York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Hill, K., Davis, A., Hirsch, D. and Marshall, L. (2016) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Marshall, L. (2015)  Â鶹ֱ²¥: Centre for Research in Social Policy
  • Padley, M., Marshall, L., Hirsch, D., Davis, A. and Valadez, L.  (2015) .  London: Trust for London
  • Hill, K., Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Smith, N. (2015)   Â鶹ֱ²¥: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D and Padley, M. (2014) York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Davis, A. and Padley, M. (2013) . Â鶹ֱ²¥: Â鶹ֱ²¥ University.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Iwanaga, R., Iwata, M., Shigekawa, J., Uzuki, Y. and Yamada, A. (2013) 'Comparing the Minimum Income Standard in the UK and Japan: Methodology and Outcome', Social Policy and Society Firstview Article, Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 .
  • Hirsch,D., Bryan, A., Davis, A., Smith, N., Ellen, J. and Padley, M. (2013) . Inverness: Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Smith, N., Beckhelling, J. and Padley, M. (2012)  York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Smith, N., Davis, A. and Hirsch, D. (2011) A minimum income standard for Guernsey. CRSP 618:  Centre for Research in Social Policy.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D. and Smith, N. (2010) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Smith, N., Hirsch, D. and Davis, A. (2010) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Hirsch, D., Davis, A., Smith, N. (2009) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Smith, N. Phung, V.H., Davis, A. and Hirsch, D. (2009) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Bradshaw, J., Middleton, S., Davis, A., Oldfield, N., Smith, N., Cusworth, L. and Williams, J., (2008) . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Davis, A. and Sandu, A. (2008) ‘Some Useful Sources’ in Social Policy and Society, 7, 4, pp.565-569. 
  • View all publications on central .