Working parents and women have been the hardest hit by consecutive harsh budgets and austerity.

According to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute, households where both members of a couple work have seen the biggest squeeze, with a 12% drop in disposable income since the recession took hold.

Women in couples have fared worse - suffering on average a 14% drop, due partly to a 25% cut to child benefit, which is usually received by mothers. Men in couples, in comparison, saw a 9% drop.

The impact of austerity policies on single men and women were 'broadly similar', according to the report, with an average loss in disposable income of around 10%.

The study - titled The Gender Impact of Tax and Benefit Changes: A Microsimulation Approach - explores how men and women's income have been affected between 2009 and 2013 by tax and public-sector pay changes.

The ESRI report also found that women were hit harder by adjustments to tax, welfare and public sector pay, because a higher proportion of women work in the public service and are more likely to be in receipt of a carers allowance.

Dr Claire Keane spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about the findings:

Orla O'Connor, Director of the National Women's Council of Ireland, says, "the evidence in today's report, shows how critical a gender analysis of Budgetary choices are for women's equality and effective national decision making."

Originally posted at 7:36am