Dr Antonia Keung

Profile

Areas of expertise

• Child poverty
• Wellbeing of children/young people
• Youth unemployment
• Intergenerational justice
• Fiscal welfare and inequality
• Quantitative research methods and analysis
• Measurement and index methodology
• Survey design

Academic biography

Antonia is a lecturer in Social Policy in the School for Business and Society and a specialist in quantitative research. Her high impact quantitative research has directly influenced policy.  It resulted in policy changes and the rollout of the new Scottish child payment as a top-up benefit for all children from low income families in Scotland since April 2022. Her research fuelled the ‘Give Me Five – The child benefit top up campaign’ of the Child Poverty Action Group.

More recently, Antonia was responsible for the modelling of the £20 uplift of the Universal Credit during the pandemic. Subsequently, she also modelled how the removal of the uplift alongside of rise in the energy prices would impact on fuel and income poverty in the UK. Her findings featured in national media including Sky News, ITV, the Guardian, the Evening Standard and others and proven to accurately quantify the rising level of poverty.

Before her current role, Antonia was one of the lead quantitative researchers involved in collaborative research with the Children’s Society. Her work contributed to the design and development of the first National Wellbeing Survey for Children and Young People in the UK and the establishment of the Good Childhood Index. The work has later formed part of the blueprint of the Office for National Statistics’ work on the measures of childhood happiness which has been incorporated into the National Wellbeing Survey.  

She has authored/co-authored about 40 publications including journal articles,  book chapters, and other invited contribution to the Conversation and Criminal Justice Matters; she conducted 6 research projects funded directly by the government, ESRC and charity organisations.

Professional activities

• Member of the Social Policy Association
• Peer reviewer for funding bodies:
• the ESRC grants
• the Wellcome Trust
• the Medical Research Council
• Peer reviewer for journals:
• Child Indicators Research
• The BMC Medical Research Methodology
• Population Review
• Children and Youth Services Review

Publications

Recent selected publications

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A. (2021) Water poverty in England and Wales: evidence to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). Review of water poverty in England and Wales. https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/168917/

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A. (2021) Fuel poverty: the impact of rising fuel prices in the UK. https://jonathanbradshaw.blogspot.com/2021/10/fuel-poverty-impact-of-rising.html

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A.  (2020) Help for poor families with children in the COVID-19 crisis: further analysis. York: SPRU. http://jonathanbradshaw.blogspot.com/2020/04/

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A.  (2020) Poor children need a coronavirus bonus. Child Poverty Action Group. https://cpag.org.uk/news-blogs/news-listings/poor-children-need-coronavirus-bonus

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A. (2019) “UK child poverty gaps are still increasing”. Poverty 162 (Winter 2019). Child Poverty Action Group. https://cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/resources/article/uk-child-poverty-gaps-are-still-increasing

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A. (2019) “The rich and the poor”. In Bradshaw, J. (ed.) Let’s talk about tax: How the tax system works and how to change it. Child Poverty Action Group

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A (2019) UK child poverty gaps increasing. Written evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee Inquiry on Welfare Safety Net. URL: http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/welfare-safety-net-followup/written/94923.html

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A (2018) UK child poverty gaps still increasing. Related URLs: https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2018/research/poverty-report-children/

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A (2018) New Free School Meals criteria. URL: http://jonathanbradshaw.blogspot.com/2018/03/new-free-school-meals-criteria.html

Bradshaw, J., Keung, A. & Chzhen, Y. (2018) “Cash benefits and poverty in single-parent families”. In Nieuwenhuis, N. & Maldonado, L. (eds) The triple bind of single-parent families: resources, employment and policies to improve wellbeing. The Policy Press.

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A (2017) Analysis of the impact of increases to child benefit and child tax credits on child poverty rates in the UK and Scotland. York: SPRU, University of York. URL: http://jonathanbradshaw.blogspot.com/2017/10/analysis-of-impact-of-increases-to.html

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A (2017) UK child poverty gaps increasing but small reductions in deprivation. York: SPRU, University of York. URL: http://jonathanbradshaw.blogspot.com/2017/12/uk-child-poverty-gaps-increasing.html

Bradshaw, J. and Keung, A (2016) UK child poverty gaps increasing, York: Department of Social Policy & Social Work, University of York. URL: https://www.york.ac.uk/spsw/research/child_poverty_gaps/

Bradshaw, J. and Keung, A. (2013) “Trends in child subjective wellbeing in United Kingdom” (2011), in Cookson, R. Sainsbury, R. & Glendinning, C., (ed.) Jonathan Bradshaw on Social Policy: Selected writings 1972-2011. York: University of York.

Bradshaw, J. & Keung, A. (2011) “Emotional wellbeing and mental health” in Bradshaw, J. (ed.), The wellbeing of children in the UK (3^rd Ed). Bristol: Policy Press.

Bradshaw, J., Keung, A., Rees, G., & Goswami, H. (2011) “Children’s subjective wellbeing: international comparative perspectives”. Children and Youth Services Review, 33, pp. 548-557.

Bradshaw, J. and Keung, A (2011) “Trends in child subjective wellbeing in United Kingdom”. Journal of Children’s Services, 6, pp. 4-17.

Bradshaw, J., Rees, G., Keung, A. & Goswami, H. (2010) “The subjective wellbeing of children”, in McAuley, C. and Rose, W. (ed.) Child wellbeing: understanding children’s lives.  London: Jessica Kingsley.

Coles, B., Godfrey, C., Keung, A., Parrott, S. & Bradshaw, J. (2010) Estimating the life-time cost of NEET: 16-18 year-olds not in Education, Employment or Training. York: University of York.

Cusworth, L., Bradshaw, J., Coles, B., Keung, A., & Chzhen, Y. (2009) Understanding the risks of social exclusion across the life course: Youth and young adulthood. London: Cabinet Office. URL: https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/9499/1/youth.pdf

Hudson, J., Nam, K-J, Keung, A. (2014) Culture and the politics of welfare: exploring societal values and social choices. Basingstoke: Palgrave Pivot

Keung, A (2016) “Children’s time and space”, in Bradshaw, J. (ed.) The wellbeing of children in the UK (4^th Ed.): Bristol: Policy Press. http://policypress.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1332/policypress/9781447325628.001.0001/upso-9781447325628-chapter-8

Keung, A. (2016) “Education”, in Bradshaw, J (ed.) The wellbeing of children in the UK (4^th Ed.), Bristol: Policy Press. http://policypress.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1332/policypress/9781447325628.001.0001/upso-9781447325628-chapter-6  

Keung, A. & Bradshaw, J. (2016) Analysis of the impact of increases to child benefit and child tax credits on child poverty rates in the UK and Scotland. URL: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/pdf/CB&CTCtopups.pdf

Keung, A. (2014) “Explainer: How does the UK rank on child wellbeing?”, The Conversation; available at: https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-does-the-uk-rank-on-child-wellbeing-24180 

Keung, A. (2011) “Children’s time and space”, in Bradshaw, J. (ed.) The wellbeing of children in the UK (3^rd Ed.). Bristol: Policy Press.

Keung, A. (2011) “Education”. in Bradshaw, J. (ed.) The wellbeing of children in the UK (3^rd Ed.). Bristol: Policy Press.

Keung, A. (2010) “Young people and social exclusion: a multidimensional problem”. Criminal Justice Matters, 80, pp.42-43. URL: https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/crimeandjustice.org.uk/files/09627251.2010.482241.pdf

Keung, A. & Rees, G.(2010) Links between young people’s relationship with their fathers and their mothers, and their wellbeing and self-esteem. London: The Children’s Society.

Keung, A.(2006) “Impact of life events on the subjective wellbeing (SWB) of young people: Analysis of the British Household Panel Survey”. In Ostasiewicz, W. (ed.) Towards quality of life improvement, Wrocław: The Publishing House of the Wrocław University of Economics.

Mayhew, E., Finch, N., Beresford, B., & Keung, A. (2005) “Children’s time & space” in Bradshaw, B. & Mayhew, E. (ed) The wellbeing of children in the UK (2nd Eds.). London: Save the Children.

Pattenden, P., Keung, A., (2012) Heart Matters: User survey report. London: BHF and York: The University of York.

Pattenden, P., Keung, A. (2012) Heart Matters: Online lifestyle check 4^th report. London: BHF and York: The University of York.

Pattenden, P., Keung, A., Morton, V. (2011) Heart Matters: Online lifestyle check 3^rd report, London: BHF and York: The University of York

Pople, L., Raws, P., Mueller, D., Mahony, S., Rees, G., Bradshaw, J., Main, G., Keung, A. (2014) The Good Childhood Report 2014. London: The Children’s Society.

Quilgars, Q., Searle, B. & Keung, A (2005) “Mental health and wellbeing” in Bradshaw, B. & Mayhew, E. (ed.) The wellbeing of children in the UK (2nd Eds.). London: Save the Children.

Rees, G., Goswami, H., Pople, L., Bradshaw, J., Keung, A., & Main, G. (2013) The Good Childhood Report 2013. London: The Children’s Society.

Rees, G., Goswami, H., Pople, L., Bradshaw, J., Keung, A., Main, G. (2012) The Good Childhood Report 2012: A review of our children’s wellbeing. London: The Children’s Society.

Rees, G., Bradshaw, J., Goswami, H., & Keung, A (2010).  Understanding Children’s wellbeing: A national survey of young people’s wellbeing. London: The Children’s Society.

Teaching

Degree programmes and modules

• Advance Quantitative Methods (MA module)
• Dissertation Workshop (online MA module)
• Exploring Policy Research (Online MA module)
• Exploring Social Policy and Social Justice (Level 1 BA module)
• Research Design (MA module)
• Social Inequalities (Level 2 BA module)
• Social Research Methods (Level 2 BA module)
• Wellbeing of Children and Young People (Level 3 BA module)

Plus previously taught:

• Public Management and Delivery (online MA)
• Using Evidence in Social Policy (online MA)

Supervision interests

Child wellbeing; subjective wellbeing and mental health; youth unemployment; poverty and social exclusion; social inequalities; quantitative methods; secondary data analysis

Research

Research interests:

• Child well-being and outcomes
• Poverty and inequality
• Welfare and social security

Current research project:

Antonia’s current research project focuses on fuel poverty and social energy tariffs. Her research is supported by the Research England Policy Support Fund. Antonia is a member of the York Cost of Living Research Group.

Completed research projects:

• Comparative analysis of culture and politics of welfare (The ESRC 2013-2014)
• Measuring and monitoring subjective wellbeing of children and young people in the UK (The Children’s Society 2009-2013)
• Heart Matters Users Lifestyle Survey (The British Heart Foundation 2011-2012)
• Estimating the life-time cost of 16-18 year-olds who are not in education, employment or training in England (The Audit Commission 2009-2010)
• The wellbeing of children and young people in the UK (ChiMat 2011; Save the Children 2005)
• Social exclusion of young people aged 16-24 (The Cabinet Office 2008-2009)

PhD supervision interests:

Child wellbeing; subjective wellbeing and mental health; youth unemployment; poverty and social exclusion; social inequalities; welfare and tax system