In the United States, the limited reduction in inequality is due to the smaller size of transfers compared with the OECD average whereas in Portugal it is mainly due to their lower progressivity. The lack of, or incomplete, indexation of cash transfers has impinged negatively on their generosity. The examination of 10 countries suggests that incomplete indexation of benefits resulted in recipients losing ground in a majority of these countries (OECD, 2011 a).