Country Differences in Material Deprivation inEurope

Abstract

This paper assesses to what extent differences in the characteristics of individuals (micro‐level perspective) and country‐specific factors (macro‐level perspective) can explain country differences with respect to material deprivation levels. Thus, our work aims to simultaneously consider the macro dimension and the predominantly individually‐oriented study field of material deprivation using multilevel techniques. We make use of the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. Our results show that country‐specific factors seem to be much more relevant than individual effects in explaining country differences in material deprivation. We estimate that the introduction of country‐specific factors reduces the proportion of total variance due to between‐country differences in deprivation by 72.7 percent, while individual‐level variables reduce this proportion by only 9.4 percent. We also show, through interaction variables, that the effect of sociodemographic characteristics can be shaped by institutional and structural factors, especially by the level of GDP.

Has the Great Recession Changed the Deprivation Profile of Low Income Groups? Evidence from Spain

“…It is interesting to note that the elderly have in 2012 a lower probability than non-elderly adults of combining low income and material deprivation, whether living alone or as part of a couple. This is coherent with results from other studies showing that in Spain, as well as in other countries, elderly people do not only show comparatively low material deprivation levels (Bárcena-Martín et al, 2014), but also are the age group least affected by the crisis, probably due to their lower exposure to recent fluctuations in labour and property markets.…”

“…In Spain, it has been shown that the 82 rosa martínez and carolina navarro poverty map varies when account is taken of the regional differences in the cost of living (Ayala, Jurado and Pérez-Mayo, 2014). Poor health status, the number of dependent children or lone parenthood also tend to increase the risk of material deprivation, even after controlling for the «adjusted» income level of the household (Bárcena-Martín et al, 2014;Fusco, Guio and Marlier, 2011;Dewilde, 2008;Ayllón, Mercader and Ramos, 2007;Layte et al, 2001). A relative robust finding is the existence of a reverse relationship between age and material deprivation, with the elderly being much less deprived than expected according to their income levels (Figari, 2012;Muffels and Fouarge, 2004;Whelan, Maître and Nolan, 2007, among others).…”

Welfare Generosity in Europe: A Multi‐level Study of Material Deprivation and Income Poverty among Disadvantaged Groups

“…Typically, poor health and disability, economic inactivity and low education are related to higher risks of material poverty (Bárcena‐Martín et al . ; Boarini and d'Ercole ; Brady et al . ; Kim et al .…”

“…Only a few scholars have examined whether and how the social policy context of a country is associated with individual material deprivation (Nelson ; Bárcena‐Martín et al . ). Additionally, there is a lack of multi‐level studies that address both material deprivation and income poverty, and that acknowledge the interaction between social protection arrangements and ill‐health as well as social position.…”

The relationship between income and housing deprivation: A longitudinal analysis

“…Layte et al, 2001or Bárcena-Martin et al, 2014. One of the limitations of cross-sectional analysis is that it does not allow controlling for unobserved factors such as social networks or skills that might affect the relationship under study.…”