What is it about?
Research is not unequivocal about whether poor people generally comply with rules. We test this question using a unique natural experiment: parents who beg with their children in Brussels were subject to a local bylaw forbidding this practice. The mere proclamation of the bylaw had a considerable effect on these parents, as they brought their children much less while begging afterwards. We found no evidence of a displacement effect, where beggars with children move to the periphery.
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Why is it important?
Understanding how the target group receives regulation that affects them, especially the poor, is important in itself. So far, we know fairly little about this.
Perspectives
I am personally happy with the publications, as it showcases the relevance of collecting direct data form hidden group like homeless people or those who can be encountered while begging in the streets. All too often, policies are developed without any systematic and reliable knowledge about these groups.
Prof. Stef Adriaenssens
KU Leuven
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Does the law matter for the poor? Evaluating the response to a child begging regulation, Sociology, August 2026, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/00380385261462743.
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