Consistent Poverty across the EU

Abstract

This paper investigates consistent poverty defined as living at the risk of both income poverty and material deprivation. Using EU-SILC data from 2012, we analyze patterns of consistent poverty across EU member states and in the main individual and household-level factors predicting this status. According to our results, consistent poverty is present in all Member States, although its extent displays fairly large cross-country differences. The share of those living in consistent poverty is highest in the New Member States and the Southern countries. Living in consistent poverty is associated with several household characteristics. Those living in consistent poverty are more likely than those in severe material deprivation or income poverty to live in bigger families, to have lower levels of education, and to have weak or non-existent links to the labor market. In addition, they evaluate their financial circumstances as being worse, ceteris paribus.