Child poverty in industrialized countries

In 1999 the Centre published the most comprehensive survey of child poverty ever undertaken in industrialized countries. Child Poverty Across Industrialized Nations (Innocenti Occasional Paper 71) examined the situation in 25 countries. It found wide variations in the percentages of children living in poor families, ranging from 1.8 per cent in the Czech Republic to 26.6 per cent in the Russian Federation. The paper was highlighted in UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children Report 2000. The speed at which children and their families move in and out of poverty, and the length of time they spend in poverty, is a largely unexplored area. There is far too little documentation on the factors that push people into the poverty trap, or on the positive forces that can help them lift themselves out. In 1999 the Centre continued its work on a comparative study of this issue in seven industrialized countries – Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom and United States – to examine why children become impoverished and for how long. The findings will be published towards the end of 2000 and are intended to spur Governments to do more to gather and analyse such fundamental information.

Publications

Child Poverty in English-Speaking Countries

Publication

Child Poverty in English-Speaking Countries

The paper considers child poverty in rich English-speaking countries - U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and Ireland. It is sometimes assumed that these countries stand out from other OECD countries for their levels of child poverty. The paper looks at the policies they have adopted to address the problem.

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When the Invisible Hand Rocks the Cradle: New Zealand children in a time of change

Publication

When the Invisible Hand Rocks the Cradle: New Zealand children in a time of change

This paper investigates the impact of economic and social reforms on the well-being of children in New Zealand. These reforms were among the most sweeping in scope and scale in any industrialized democracy, but have not led to an overall improvement in the well-being of children. There has been widening inequality between ethnic and income groups which has left many Maori and Pacific children, and children from one parent and poorer families, relatively worse off. The New Zealand experience illustrates the vulnerability of children during periods of upheaval and the importance of having effective mechanisms to monitor, protect and promote their interests.

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The Dynamics of Child Poverty in Industrialised Countries

Publication

The Dynamics of Child Poverty in Industrialised Countries

This unique study goes beyond the standard analysis of child poverty based on poverty rates at one point in time and documents how much movement into and out of poverty by children there actually is, covering a range of industrialised countries - the USA, UK, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Hungary and Russia. £st23.95

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Publication

Child Poverty Dynamics in Seven Nations

This paper compares child poverty dynamics cross-nationally using panel data from seven nations: the USA, Britain, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Hungary, and Russia. As well as using standard relative poverty definitions the paper examines flows into and out of the poorest fifth of the children's income distribution.

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How Effective is the British Government's Attempt to Reduce Child Poverty?

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How Effective is the British Government's Attempt to Reduce Child Poverty?

This paper describes the specific initiatives of the British Labour government to reduce child poverty and evaluates their potential impact. The extent of the problem of child poverty is set out, the causes are discussed and Britain’s problem is set in an international perspective. Policies that address long-term disadvantage are also discussed and future strategy is considered.

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Child Well-Being in the EU and Enlargement to the East

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Child Well-Being in the EU and Enlargement to the East

The accession of up to 13 new members in the next decade is the most important development now facing the European Union. This paper analyses measurable differences in the well-being of children between current club members, the EU Member States, and the 10 Central and Eastern European applicants seeking admission.

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Publication

Macroeconomics and Data on Children

The key economic variables on which economic policy operates can all be given a child dimension. And direct measures of various dimensions of child well-being must also be brought into the picture.

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Child Poverty across Industrialized Nations

Publication

Child Poverty across Industrialized Nations

Despite widespread concern about the living standards of children, the research of the last decade has confirmed that there remain wide variations in the extent of child poverty across countries at otherwise similar levels of development.

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