Social background and life-course risks as determinants of social assistance receipt among young adults in Sweden, Norway and Finland

Abstract

We analyse the determinants of social assistance receipt among young adults in three Nordic countries, focusing on social-background and life-course events during early adulthood. We ask whether they are Article 274 Journal of European Social Policy 24(3)related differently to short-term and long-term receipt. Short-term poverty could be more individualized than long-term poverty which can be expected to be more strongly related to social background. We applied generalized ordinal logit modelling to longitudinal register-based data. Both social-background and life-course factors were found to be important, but our results did not confirm the hypothesis of social background predicting mostly long-term receipt and life-course factors predicting mostly short-term receipt. Leaving the parental home early and parental social assistance receipt were important determinants of social assistance receipt, and both factors predicted longer duration of receipt as well. We found some differences between the countries, which may be related to differences in youth unemployment and social welfare systems.

Debt problems, home‐leaving, and boomeranging: A register‐based perspective on economic consequences of moving away from parental home

“…The role of major life events on economic difficulties has been demonstrated in previous studies (Aaltonen et al, 2016;Kauppinen et al, 2014;Oksanen, Aaltonen, & Kivivuori, 2015;Sandberg-Thoma et al, 2015). The role of major life events on economic difficulties has been demonstrated in previous studies (Aaltonen et al, 2016;Kauppinen et al, 2014;Oksanen, Aaltonen, & Kivivuori, 2015;Sandberg-Thoma et al, 2015).…”

“…Iacovou, & Mencarini, 2006). Leaving parental home before 18 has been found to have negative consequences including more financial difficulties, lower educational attainment, higher risk of health problems, and higher risk for premature death (Aassve et al, 2006;Bernhardt, Michael, & Goldscheider, 2005;Kauppinen et al, 2014;Remes & Martikainen, 2012;Wickrama, Wickrama, & Baltimore, 2010). Leaving parental home before 18 has been found to have negative consequences including more financial difficulties, lower educational attainment, higher risk of health problems, and higher risk for premature death (Aassve et al, 2006;Bernhardt, Michael, & Goldscheider, 2005;Kauppinen et al, 2014;Remes & Martikainen, 2012;Wickrama, Wickrama, & Baltimore, 2010).…”

“…This is based on earlier empirical findings of various difficulties faced by those who left early (Aassve et al, 2006;Kauppinen et al, 2014). In particular, the article focuses on individual changes in the prevalence of debt problems before and after It is expected that debt problems increase after leaving parental home, and that they are associated with both family background and education.…”

“…One exception is a study by Kauppinen et al (2014), who found out that in Sweden, Norway and Finland those who moved out really early were more likely to apply for financial assistance from the state. One exception is a study by Kauppinen et al (2014), who found out that in Sweden, Norway and Finland those who moved out really early were more likely to apply for financial assistance from the state.…”

“…Furthermore, there are very few nationally representative longitudinal studies on financial debt during early adulthood (Dwyer, Hodson, & McCloud, 2013;Dwyer et al, 2011Dwyer et al, , 2012Houle, 2013Houle, , 2014Sweet, Nandi, Adam, & McDade, 2013). Mostly Nordic researchers have so far used registerbased data for the analysis of financial problems (e.g., Aaltonen, Oksanen, & Kivivuori, 2016;Kauppinen et al 2014;Oksanen, Aaltonen, & Rantala, 2015). It is particularly difficult for traditional survey methods to reach those who are not in employment, education, or training.…”