Children of the Recession - The impact of the economic crisis on child well-being in rich countries
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UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 12 Children in the Developed World Children of the Recession The impact of the economic crisis on child well-being in rich countries
Innocenti Report Card 12 was written by Gonzalo Fanjul and edited by Rick Boychuk. The UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti would like to acknowledge the generous support for Innocenti Report Card 12 provided by the Government of Italy. Any part of this Innocenti Report Card may be freely reproduced using the following reference: UNICEF Office of Research (2014). ‘Children of the Recession: The impact of the economic crisis on child well-being in rich countries’, Innocenti Report Card 12, UNICEF Office of Research, Florence. The Report Card series is designed to monitor and compare the performance of economically advanced countries in securing the rights and well-being of their children. In 1988 the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) established a research centre to support its advocacy for children worldwide and to identify and research current and future areas of UNICEF’s work. The prime objectives of the Office of Research are to improve international understanding of issues relating to children’s rights, to help facilitate full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child supporting advocacy worldwide. The Office aims to set out a comprehensive framework for research and knowledge within the organization, in support of its global programmes and policies. Through strengthening research partnerships with leading academic institutions and development networks in both the North and South, the Office seeks to leverage additional resources and influence in support of efforts towards policy reform in favour of children. Publications produced by the Office are contributions to a global debate on children and child rights issues and include a wide range of opinions. For that reason, some publications may not necessarily reflect UNICEF policies or approaches on some topics. The views expressed are those of the authors and/or editors and are published in order to stimulate further dialogue on issues affecting children. Cover photo © Shutterstock ©United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), September 2014 ISBN: 978 88 6522 030 6 ISSN: 1605-7317 UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti Piazza SS. Annunziata, 12 50122 Florence, Italy Tel: +39 055 2033 0 Fax: +39 055 2033 220 florence@unicef.org www.unicef-irc.org
Innocenti Report Card 12 Children in the Developed World Children of the Recession The impact of the economic crisis on child well-being in rich countries
Children of the Recession
Executive summary
The data and observations in this below the poverty line) has Universal aftershocks
Innocenti Report Card reveal a increased since 2008. In 18 Those countries most affected by
strong and multifaceted relationship countries child poverty has fallen, the recession have seen a steady
between the impact of the Great sometimes markedly. deterioration in the situation of
Recession on national economies
and a decline in children’s well-being
» The number of children entering families, mostly from job losses,
into poverty during the recession underemployment and cuts to
since 2008. Children are suffering public services. The median income
is 2.6 million higher than the
most, and will bear the in households with children has
number that have been able to
consequences longest, in countries decreased in almost half of the
escape from it since 2008
where the recession has hit hardest. countries with available data. The
(6.6 million, as against 4 million).
For each country, the extent and Around 76.5 million children live number of families stating that their
character of the crisis’s impact on in poverty in the 41 most affluent situation is ‘very difficult’ has risen
children has been shaped by the countries. in most countries. Having a child or
depth of the recession, pre-existing children in a household increases
economic conditions, the strength
» The recession has hit young the risk of ‘working poverty’
people extremely hard, with the (working, but below the poverty
of the social safety net and, most
NEET (not in education, line) from 7 per cent to 11 per cent.
importantly, policy responses.
employment or training) rate Since 2008, the percentage of
Remarkably, amid this
rising dramatically in many households with children that are
unprecedented social crisis, many
countries. In the EU, 7.5 million unable to afford meat, chicken or
countries have managed to limit –
young people (almost the fish every second day has more
or even reduce – child poverty. It
population of Switzerland) were than doubled in Estonia, Greece
was by no means inevitable, then,
NEET in 2013 – nearly a million and Italy. Inability to cope with
that children would be the most
more than in 2008. The United unexpected financial expenses has
enduring victims of the recession.
States and Australia have had the increased by almost 60 per cent, on
The impact of the recession largest increases in the NEET rate average, in households with
on children across non-EU OECD countries. children in the
This report offers multiple and 12 most affected countries.
» Beyond income and employment
detailed perspectives on how the
levels, the recession has affected Such changes have huge
recession has affected children in
a number of other important consequences for the young.
the developed world. Official data
dimensions of people’s lives. From Children feel anxious and stressed
have been used to rank the impact
2007 to 2013, feelings of insecurity when parents endure
on children for countries in the
and stress rose in 18 of the 41 unemployment or income loss, and
European Union (EU) and/or the
countries, according to measurable they suffer family downturns in
Organisation for Economic
self-perception indicators subtle and painfully evident ways.
Co-operation and Development
(including access to food and Housing, a large part of every
(OECD):
satisfaction with life). The family’s budget, is one important
» In 23 of 41 countries analysed, recession’s impact on personal indicator of poverty. Evictions,
and in many of the highly experiences and perceptions is mortgage defaults and foreclosures
populated countries, child not yet over, and many indicators all spiked in many countries
poverty (children living in have even worsened in the most affected by the recession. Such
households whose income is recent years. constraints at home have been
2 I n n o c e n t i R e p o r t C a r d 1 2E x e c u t i v e s u m m a r y
compounded by weakened safety increased more rapidly (or has from financial markets forced many
nets in healthcare, education and decreased more slowly) for the governments to cut budgets. The
nutrition. Some 1.6 million more young than for the elderly. In 24 of Eurozone’s U-turn was particularly
children were living in severe the 31 countries, poverty levels abrupt, and there was a fall in social
material deprivation in 2012 have decreased among the elderly, spending on children and families.
(11.1 million) than in 2008 while among children they have
Social protection responses have
(9.5 million) in 30 European increased in 20 countries,
varied considerably in magnitude
countries. The longer these children suggesting that safeguards for the
and makeup. When budget cuts
remain trapped in the cycle of old have been more effective than
became unavoidable in certain
poverty, the harder it will be for for the young.
countries, particularly in the
them to escape.
A generation cast aside Mediterranean region, the shift from
Poorer children suffer most stimulus to consolidation increased
Unemployment among adolescents
The poorest and most vulnerable and young adults is a significant inequality and contributed to
children have suffered long-term effect of the recession. worsening living conditions for
disproportionately. Inequality has Among those aged 15–24, children. During the second phase
increased in some countries where unemployment has increased in 34 of the recession, the effectiveness
overall child poverty has decreased, of the 41 countries analysed. Youth of child poverty reduction efforts
suggesting that tax changes and unemployment and declined in a third of EU countries.
social transfers intended to help the underemployment have reached Extreme child poverty in the United
poorest children have been States increased more during the
worrying levels in many countries.
relatively ineffective. Great Recession than it did in the
Even when unemployment or recession of 1982, suggesting that,
The ‘poverty gap’ (a measure of the
inactivity decreases, that does not for the very poorest, the safety net
distance between the poverty line
necessarily mean that young people affords less protection now than it
and the income of people below it)
are finding stable, reasonably paid did three decades ago.
has worsened in countries where
jobs. The number of 15- to 24-year-
poverty has increased most, No government was prepared for
olds in part-time work or who are
meaning that deprivation in those the extent or depth of the recession
underemployed has tripled on
countries is more extensive and and none reacted in the same way.
average in countries more exposed
intense. It is notable that this Many countries with higher levels
to the recession. Contract work has
inequality has also increased in of child vulnerability would have
become more common,
some places where overall child been wise to strengthen their safety
contributing to the general
poverty has decreased. Moreover, nets during the pre-recession period
precariousness of labour markets.
children in particularly vulnerable of dynamic economic growth,
situations – such as those in An uneven response which was marked by rising
jobless, migrant, lone-parent and Many governments adopted disparity and a growing
large households – are over- economic stimulus packages in the concentration of wealth.
represented in the most severe
initial phase of the recession, Governments that bolstered existing
ranges of poverty statistics.
pushing up public spending. The public institutions and programmes
In 28 out of 31 European countries persistence of the recession led to helped to buffer countless children
(EU plus Iceland, Norway and a decrease in national revenues and from the crisis – a strategy that
Switzerland) the poverty rate has an increase in deficits. Pressure others may consider adopting.
I n n o c e n t i Re p o r t C a r d 1 2 3E x e c u t i v e s u m m a r y
The consequences of a Great The problems have not ended for » Make an explicit commitment to
Leap Backward children and their families, and it end child poverty in developed
All countries faced difficult choices, may well take years for many of countries. Countries should
limited budgets and worsening them to return to pre-crisis levels of place the well-being of children
recessions. The enormity of the well-being. Failing to respond boldly at the top of their responses to
challenges should not be could pose long-term risks – for the recession, aligning their
underestimated. Demand for example, there has been a break in ethical obligations with their
austerity measures was intense, the upwards trend in fertility rates. self-interest.
In no region are these risks more
as were pleas from other vulnerable » Rescue, prevent and give hope.
sectors. Compromises were problematic than in Europe, where
Opportunities to break cycles of
undoubtedly necessary. inequality is rising within and
child vulnerability should be
between Member States,
But if protection policies had been promoted. Guaranteed minimum
threatening to undermine the
stronger before, and if they had social standards would make a
ambitious targets of Europe’s
been strengthened during the positive difference.
2020 agenda.
recession, how many more children » Produce better data for informed
could have been helped? The children of the recovery
public debate. Availability,
What lies ahead for children timeliness and relevance of
A calculation of the impact of the
neglected by the global response information about the well-being
crisis on the median income of
to the Great Recession? If the of children should be improved.
households with children suggests
neglect persists, the crisis among
that, between 2008 and 2012,
children will continue well after
Greek families lost the equivalent
any economic recovery. The long-
of 14 years of progress; Ireland,
term well-being of our societies
Luxembourg and Spain lost a full
is at stake.
decade; and four other nations lost
almost as much. The Great The analysis in this report suggests
Recession has brought suffering the following principles and
and life-long risks to an extra recommendations for governments
619,000 children in Italy, 444,000 to consider in strengthening child
in France and 2 million in Mexico. protection strategies:
4 I n n o c e n t i Re p o r t C a r d 1 2SECTION 1
Introduction
“The child should be fully prepared to live
an individual life in society, and brought up
in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the
Charter of the United Nations, and in
particular in the spirit of peace, dignity,
tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity.”
– Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989
Twenty-five years after the As the data in this new edition of To be sure, the situation described
Convention on the Rights of the Child the Innocenti Report Card series here varies from country to
became international law, many of its show, in the past five years, rising country. A small but significant
commitments remain unrealized, and numbers of children and their group of countries responded to
the developed countries most families have experienced difficulty the crisis with ambitious and
capable of delivering on them are in satisfying their most basic timely plans that have sheltered
losing ground. The Great Recession, material and educational needs. children from the recession’s
which was triggered by a financial Unemployment rates not seen since most debilitating consequences.
meltdown that started in the United the Great Depression of the 1930s Many others have implemented
States and spread rapidly across the have left many families unable to partial reforms to safeguard such
globe, has inflicted the economic provide the care, protection and essentials as health services,
crisis on children. The gap between opportunities to which children are housing and food. In some cases,
rich and poor families has widened in entitled. Most importantly, the the honest efforts of governments
an alarming number of industrialized Great Recession is about to trap have been hindered by the weight
countries. For many of these a generation of educated and of the conditions imposed on
children, once again place of birth capable youth in a limbo of them by the financial markets
may determine their rights and unmet expectations and lasting and the providers of financial
opportunities in life. vulnerability. assistance.
I n n o c e n t i R e p o r t C a r d 1 2 5S E C T I O N 1 I nt r o d u ction
This report is not intended to levels of children; the impact of the
recommend specific responses to recession on youth; and what
the economic downturn or to repeated rounds of the Gallup
comment on the austerity policies World Poll show about the change
that some countries are pursuing. in people’s perceptions of their life
Rather, its goal is to highlight the circumstances over the past five
fact that the current and future lives years. Section 3 describes the
of children have been – and are impact of the Great Recession on
being – neglected in the global families, analysing the magnitude of
response to the Great Recession. the shock on children and
Should this neglect persist, the comparing it with the condition of
crisis for children will continue other social groups. It also explores
to be felt well after the economic the effects of the recession on
recovery. The long-term social youth seeking to enter or remain in
health of our societies is at risk. If the labour force in the middle of a
generations have defining moments, recession. Section 4 offers an
this is certainly one of them. explanation for why this happened,
looking at the period that preceded
The structure of the report is as
the crisis and describing the
follows: Section 2 features ‘league
responses of different
tables’, the flagship tool of the
governments. Section 5 presents
Innocenti Report Card series. The
conclusions and recommendations.
tables rank the change, since the
onset of the crisis, in the poverty
6 I nnocenti Re p o r t C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 2 T h e l e a g u e t a b l es
SECTION 2
The league tables
Countries should place the well-being of
children at the top of their responses to the
recession. Not only is this a moral obligation
but it is in the self-interest of societies.
Surveys and polls produced in the a complex concept – how children The rankings focus on 2007/2008
European Union (EU) and/or the have fared during the Great up to the latest period for which
Organisation for Economic Recession. The first covers data are available. A light blue
Co-operation and Development monetary poverty, a measure of the background indicates a place in
(OECD) countries offer valuable availability of resources to purchase the top third of the table, mid
insights into the impact of the goods and services to ensure blue denotes the middle third,
recession on children and families. material well-being. The second and dark blue the bottom third.
Using such data, three important ranking reports on the schooling While some macroeconomic
rankings have been constructed: and employment status of young indicators in most affluent
the evolution of child poverty by adults, who have arguably been the countries show signs of recovery,
country since 2008; the change in hardest hit during this period. And economic growth is slow and
the rate of young people not in our third league table is somewhat unemployment remains
education, employment or training innovative, employing data from abnormally high. The impact of
(NEET); and individuals’ self-
the Gallup World Poll to see what the recession on children, in
perception of their living conditions.
individuals themselves say about particular, will be felt long after
Each of these league tables their experiences during these the recession itself is declared
describes a different dimension of tumultuous economic times. to be over.
I nnocenti R e p ort C a r d 1 2 7S E C T I O N 2 T h e l e a g u e t a b l es
League Table 1 Change in child poverty (anchored in 2008)
Change
Rank Country
(2008–2012)
31.4
1 Chile -8.67 Chile 22.8
22.4
2 Poland -7.90 Poland 14.5
19.2
3 Australia -6.27 Australia 13.0
16.7
4 Slovakia -5.60 Slovakia 11.1
19.5
5 Switzerland -4.80 Switzerland 14.7
9.6
6 Norway -4.30 Norway 5.3
16.8
7 Republic of Korea -3.40 Republic of Korea 13.4
12.0
8 Finland -3.20 Finland 8.8
33.0
9 Turkey -2.76 Turkey 30.2
21.7
10 Japan -2.70 Japan 19.0
23.2
11 Canada -2.44 Canada 20.8
32.9
12 Romania -2.30 Romania 30.6
17.2
13 Belgium -0.80 Belgium 16.4
12.9
13 Sweden -0.80 Sweden 12.1
14.9
15 Austria -0.70 Austria 14.2
18.8
16 New Zealand -0.40 New Zealand 18.4
13.2
17 Czech Republic -0.40 Czech Republic 12.8
15.2
18 Germany -0.20 Germany 15.0
35.1
19 Israel 0.55 Israel 35.6
25.5
20 Bulgaria 0.60 Bulgaria 26.1
20.4
20 Malta 0.60 Malta 21.0
12.9
22 Netherlands 1.00 Netherlands 13.9
22.8
22 Portugal 1.00 Portugal 23.8
9.1
24 Denmark 1.10 Denmark 10.2
24.0
25 United Kingdom 1.60 United Kingdom 25.6
11.6
26 Slovenia 1.80 Slovenia 13.4
30.1
27 United States 2.06 United States 32.2
14.0
28 Cyprus 2.70 Cyprus 16.7
19.7
29 Hungary 2.90 Hungary 22.6
15.6
30 France 3.00 France 18.6
29.3
31 Mexico 5.00 Mexico 34.3
17.1
32 Estonia 5.10 Estonia 22.2
24.7
33 Italy 5.70 Italy 30.4
19.8
34 Luxembourg 6.50 Luxembourg 26.3
28.2
35 Spain 8.10 Spain 36.3
22.8
36 Lithuania 8.30 Lithuania 31.1
18.0
37 Ireland 10.60 Ireland 28.6
15.8
38 Croatia 11.80 Croatia 27.6
23.6
39 Latvia 14.60 Latvia 38.2
23.0
40 Greece 17.50 Greece 40.5
11.2
41 Iceland 20.40 Iceland 31.6
0 10 20 30 40 50
Child poverty rate
2008 2012
See data sources and notes on page 44.
8 I nnocenti R e p ort C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 2 T h e l e a g u e t a b l es
A commonly used indicator of child Key findings: and three other states that have
poverty is the proportion of those been hard hit by the recession:
» The impact of the recession can
Iceland, Ireland and Luxembourg.
living below an established poverty
be felt in more than half of the 41
line. League Table 1 ranks the In the five countries at the
countries (and in most of the
change in child poverty in 41 EU bottom of the table, child poverty
highly populated countries) listed
and/or OECD countries between rose by 10 to 20 points – an
in League Table 1. In 23
2008 and 2012. This change is increase of over 50 per cent.
countries, the income poverty of
calculated by computing child
children has increased since » In a remarkable group of
poverty in 2008 using a poverty line
2008, with wide variations among 18 countries, families and
fixed at 60 per cent of median
countries (from 0.55 percentage governments found some
income. Using the same poverty line
points in Israel to 20.40 way to cope with the worst
in 2012, adjusted for inflation, the
percentage points in Iceland). consequences of the recession
rate is computed and the difference
and saw their child poverty
in the two rates is shown. A positive » The largest increase in child
numbers reduced. This is the
number indicates an increase in poverty has been in southern
case in Chile, Finland, Norway,
child poverty. Additional European countries – Greece,
Poland and Slovakia, all of which
explanations of these trends are Italy and Spain – as well as in
reduced poverty levels by some
provided in Section 3. Croatia, the three Baltic States
30 per cent.
» The number of children entering
into poverty during the recession
Interpreting the data – League Table 1
is 2.6 million higher than the
number that have been able to
escape it since 2008 (6.6 million,
versus 4 million). Around
76.5 million children live in
poverty in the 41 most affluent
countries.
» In a surprisingly high number of
cases, average comparisons hide
Poverty in affluent countries is usually measured using a relative the scale of the situation. In over
poverty line defined at either 50 per cent or 60 per cent of median half of the countries, more than
annual income. Using this approach, changes in poverty over time one child in five lives in poverty.
reflect changes in income and changes in the distribution of income. Greece, Latvia and Spain have
This report, however, uses a fixed reference point, anchored to the child poverty of above 36 per
relative poverty line in 2008, as a benchmark against which to cent. In the United States, child
assess the absolute change in child poverty over time. This measure poverty is 32 per cent, and in
is particularly useful for assessing impacts of the recession, when Italy it is 30 per cent.
incomes of the entire population may be changing, and when
individuals compare their income to that of their neighbours, as well
as to their own circumstances before the crisis.
Using a relative poverty line each year obscures the impact on
poverty of the overall decline in median income. In the United
Kingdom, for example, relative child poverty decreased from
24 per cent in 2008 to 18.6 per cent in 2012 due to a sharp decline
in median income and the subsequent lowering of the relative
poverty line. Using the anchored indicator, it actually increased from
24.0 per cent to 25.6 per cent from the start of the recession.
I nnocenti R e p ort C a r d 1 2 9S E C T I O N 2 T h e l e a g u e t a b l es
League Table 2 Youth aged 15 to 24 not in education, employment or training (NEET), percentage
Change
Rank Country
(2008–2013)
37.0
1 Turkey -11.5 Turkey 25.5
8.4
2 Germany -2.1 Germany 6.3
8.5
3 Japan -1.5 Japan 6.9
6.2
4 Luxembourg -1.2 Luxembourg 5.0
21.5
5 Mexico -0.4 Mexico 21.1
7.8
6 Sweden -0.3 Sweden 7.5
7.1
7 Austria 0.0 Austria 7.1
9.6
7 Canada 0.0 Canada 9.6
12.9
9 New Zealand 0.8 New Zealand 13.7
6.3
10 Switzerland 0.8 Switzerland 7.1
29.8
11 Israel 0.9 Israel 30.7
10.2
12 France 1.0 France 11.2
4.5
12 Iceland 1.0 Iceland 5.5
14.9
14 Ireland 1.2 Ireland 16.1
11.8
14 Latvia 1.2 Latvia 13.0
14.6
14 Republic of Korea 1.2 Republic of Korea 15.8
12.1
14 United Kingdom 1.2 United Kingdom 13.3
19.0
18 Chile 1.5 Chile 20.5
7.8
18 Finland 1.5 Finland 9.3
4.1
18 Norway 1.5 Norway 5.6
4.3
21 Denmark 1.7 Denmark 6.0
8.3
21 Malta 1.7 Malta 10.0
3.4
21 Netherlands 1.7 Netherlands 5.1
9.9
24 Australia 2.3 Australia 12.2
8.8
25 Lithuania 2.3 Lithuania 11.1
6.7
26 Czech Republic 2.4 Czech Republic 9.1
10.1
27 Belgium 2.6 Belgium 12.7
8.7
27 Estonia 2.6 Estonia 11.3
11.1
27 Slovakia 2.6 Slovakia 13.7
6.5
30 Slovenia 2.7 Slovenia 9.2
12.0
31 United States 3.0 United States 15.0
9.0
32 Poland 3.2 Poland 12.2
11.5
33 Hungary 3.9 Hungary 15.4
10.3
33 Portugal 3.9 Portugal 14.2
17.4
35 Bulgaria 4.2 Bulgaria 21.6
14.3
36 Spain 4.3 Spain 18.6
16.6
37 Italy 5.6 Italy 22.2
11.6
37 Romania 5.6 Romania 17.2
10.1
39 Croatia 8.5 Croatia 18.6
11.7
40 Greece 8.9 Greece 20.6
9.7
41 Cyprus 9.0 Cyprus 18.7
0 10 20 30 40
NEET rate (%)
2008 2013
See data sources and notes on page 44.
1 0 I nnocenti R e p ort C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 2 T h e l e a g u e t a b l es
The NEET rate is the percentage of » Of the OECD countries that are » In countries such as Croatia and
young people aged 15 to 24 who not in the European Union, the Greece, the deterioration in the
are not participating in education, United States saw the largest circumstances of youth went
employment or training. League increase in the NEET rate, hand in hand with an increase in
Table 2 shows the NEET ranking of followed by Australia. child poverty, but there does not
the 41 countries between 2008 appear to be a strong relationship
and 2013.
» Across all the countries, the
between the two. Iceland
sharpest NEET rate decrease was
mitigated a rise in the NEET rate
Key findings: in Turkey. Even so, that country
despite a dramatic increase in
» The recession hit young people retained the highest rate in the
child poverty, while Romania saw
extremely hard, with the NEET comparison: one young person in
the NEET rate rise even as child
rate rising dramatically in most four was NEET in 2013. Similarly
poverty fell.
EU countries. The largest in Mexico, though the NEET rate
absolute increases were in has remained stable, one young
Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy person in five was NEET.
and Romania, all with relative
» Generally speaking, young people
changes of around 30 per cent
have suffered more in countries
or higher.
that have seen a greater decline
» Across the EU, 7.5 million young in economic output. The two
people (almost the entire notable exceptions are
population of Switzerland) were Luxembourg (where the NEET
NEET in 2013, nearly a million rate fell during a specific period
more than in 2008. In Italy alone, of economic turbulence) and
more than a million young Poland (where the NEET rate
people aged 15–24 were neither increased, despite sustained
studying nor working in 2013. economic growth).
Interpreting the data – League Table 2
High NEET rates suggest an interrupted transition from school to
work, or from school to further education, with long-term individual
and societal costs. Increases in the NEET rate reflect the recession’s
impact on a generation of young people; the kind of productive
adulthood their parents took for granted is slipping away.
I nnocenti R e p ort C a r d 1 2 1 1S E C T I O N 2 T h e l e a g u e t a b l es
League Table 3 How people say their lives have changed
What people say about their living situation when asked...
Country rankings based on change 2007–2013, Gallup World Poll. Figures in columns 1 to 4 show the relative
position of each country in relation to the rest, and column 5 indicates the number of these indicators that had
worsened in each country between 2007 and 2013.
Direction of
Countries ranked based on change 2007–2013 Recent Impact
change
1 Have there been
times in the past
12 months when you
2 Did you
experience
stress today?
3 Overall
satisfaction
with life?
4 Do most
children in
(country) have
5 Number of
indicators
worsening
6 ! = >2
indicators
worsened
Country did not have enough the opportunity 2007–2013 2011–2013
money to buy food to learn and grow
that you or your family every day, or not?
needed?
Germany 4 9 3 6 0
Switzerland 3 12 8 11 1
Israel 4 29 6 2 1 !
Slovakia 26 13 3 4 2
Chile 1 32 1 14 1
Iceland 18 16 3 11 2
Australia 13 6 15 15 1
Austria 4 16 8 21 2
Japan 8 7 27 8 1
Bulgaria 1 n.a. 11 29 1
Latvia 28 15 7 5 2
Sweden 4 11 10 34 2
Denmark 8 9 28 15 1
Mexico 23 8 2 28 2
Lithuania 29 4 28 1 2
Republic of Korea 32 2 12 17 1 !
Norway 16 21 15 11 2
Czech Republic 8 25 12 19 1
France 26 5 15 19 1
Malta 20 25 15 8 2
Poland 18 20 28 3 3
United Kingdom 8 25 15 21 2 !
Belgium 13 18 24 17 3
Italy 13 21 36 8 3
Luxembourg 16 25 15 26 3 !
New Zealand 23 1 31 31 3
Canada 8 32 15 34 2
Hungary 41 18 24 6 3
Estonia 35 13 15 36 3 !
Croatia 29 n.a. 15 33 2
Netherlands 29 30 24 21 4 !
Romania 32 3 33 37 3
Slovenia 20 34 12 39 3
Finland 20 34 31 21 4
United States 37 21 33 21 4 !
Portugal 35 21 35 31 4 !
Spain 23 30 40 38 4 !
Ireland 32 36 38 30 4 !
Turkey 40 38 37 27 4 !
Cyprus 38 37 38 40 4 !
Greece 39 39 41 41 4 !
See data sources and notes on page 44
1 2 I nnocenti R e p ort C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 2 T h e l e a g u e t a b l es
Another way of looking at the impact » In 29 of the 41 countries, the » Some of the trends indicate that
of the Great Recession is simply to survey shows an increase in the dramatic societal changes are
ask people about their experiences percentage of respondents who under way. In Greece, the share
and perceptions. The Gallup World reported not having enough money of respondents saying they
Poll does that every year, using a to buy food for themselves and “experienced stress today”
representative sample of 1,000 their family. Again in 29 countries, jumped from 49 per cent in 2006
respondents in each country. The the stress indicator increased. In to 74 per cent in 2013. In the
four questions in League Table 3 almost half of the countries, overall United States, the share of
come from those polls. life satisfaction decreased. And in respondents that have
21 of the 41 countries, fewer experienced not having enough
Key findings:
respondents agreed with the money to buy food doubled, from
» Beyond income and statement that children have the 10 per cent to 20 per cent. The
employment levels, the opportunity to learn and grow. share of respondents who think
recession affected a number children have an opportunity to
of other dimensions of » In terms of its impact on personal learn and grow dropped by
people’s lives. In 18 of the 41 experiences and perceptions, the between 10 and 20 percentage
countries, three or more of recession is certainly not over. In points in five countries:
these indicators reveal rising 13 countries, negative responses Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia, Spain
feelings of insecurity and to three or four questions were still and Romania.
stress from 2007 to 2013. The rising between 2011 and 2013,
Summary
most severely affected particularly in countries such as
countries are clustered at the Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Israel, the The overall evidence from our three
bottom of the table. Netherlands, Spain and Turkey. league tables paints a vivid picture
of how children and families have
fared during the Great Recession.
Although each league table
Interpreting the data – League Table 3 provides somewhat different
dimensions of well-being, countries
like Croatia, Greece and Spain are
Countries are ranked based on their average score across the four consistently placed in the bottom
indicators, each of which measures how responses changed third across all dimensions,
between 2007 and 2013. The highest number indicates the sharpest highlighting how badly they have
change. Column 5 indicates how many of the responses to the four been hit by the recession. On the
were negative over the full period. Note that these data are collected other hand, some relatively wealthy
in a different way from those reported in official statistics and should countries (such as Canada, Finland,
be interpreted with care when it comes to individual data points.i the Netherlands and the United
States) have seen only small
Due to data availability, the numbers in the table refer to the
increases – or even declines – in
population in general, not to families with children. However, for the
child poverty and yet rank in the
question on not having enough money to buy food, it was possible
bottom third of the Gallup league
to disaggregate respondents living in families with children for a
table, suggesting that monetary
subset of 31 countries. In the 10 countries where responses changed
poverty alone does not tell the
the most, the increase was even higher in families with children (in
whole story of the well-being of
all but one country).
families during this period. The next
i
For a more in-depth exploration of the Gallup World Poll, as well as a sections of the report provide more
validation exercise where Gallup World Poll indicators are compared to details behind these aggregate
corresponding indicators from other established data sources, see: numbers, in order to help us
Holmqvist, G. and L. Natali, ‘Exploring the Late Impact of the Financial Crisis
using Gallup World Poll Data: A note’, Innocenti Working Paper 2014-14, understand who suffered most and
UNICEF Office of Research, Florence, 2014. how countries responded.
I nnocenti R e p ort C a r d 1 2 1 3SECTION 3
How a financial crisis turned
into a crisis for children
Box 1 Measuring the exposure
to the Great Recession
Bearing in mind that the recession was different in each country, we
have separated the countries into three groups, in order to assess
their exposure to the crisis: most, moderately and least affected.i
Most affected: a) Countries that are supported by International
Monetary Fund (IMF)/EU/European Central Bank programmes and
that promptly implemented fiscal adjustments: Estonia, Hungary,
Iceland, Latvia and Lithuania. b) Countries with evident fiscal This section presents arguments
problems that experienced market pressure (with a Credit Default and data that show how the global
Swap spread higher than 500 in 2012): Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, financial shock and ensuing
Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. recession turned into a crisis for
children. It reveals a strong
Moderately affected: Countries that are highly indebted (more than
correlation between the extent to
60 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) or that suffered a
which the recession ravaged
large debt increase (more than the average): Austria, Belgium,
national economies and the decline
Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Malta, the
in child well-being since 2008. In
Netherlands, New Zealand, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United
countries where the Great
Kingdom and the United States.
Recession hit hardest, children are
Least affected: Countries least affected by the crisis:i i Australia, suffering the most and will bear the
Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Luxembourg, Mexico, consequences the longest. Below, a
Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. conceptual framework traces the
i
paths that increased the risks to
For a more extensive explanation of the rationale behind this
classification see: Natali, L., B. Martorano, S. Handa, G. Holmqvist and
children and weakened the ability of
Y. Chzhen, ‘Trends in Child Well-being in EU Countries during the Great families and states to mitigate those
Recession: A cross-country comparative perspective’, Innocenti Working risks. The variables triggering the
Paper 2014-10, UNICEF Office of Research, Florence, 2014. risks are numerous and diverse in
ii
Although Luxembourg and Mexico suffered more than other countries intensity and duration. Two factors
during the recent economic crisis, they are included in the least affected
group because a) they did not come under intense market pressure and prove particularly important for
b) debt levels were lower than 60 per cent of GDP. More detail about households with children: the
these two countries is reported in Natali et al. ‘Trends in Child Well-being position of parents in the labour
in EU Countries during the Great Recession’.
market and the depleted capacity of
states to protect families.
1 4 I n n o c e n t i R e p o r t C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 3 H o w a f in a nci a l c r isis t u r ne d into a c r isis f o r chi l d r en
Conceptual framework: How did the financial crisis turn into a crisis for children?
Global financial crisis
sovereign debt, economic crisis
The crisis originated in the banking and housing sectors in developed
countries and rapidly spread to other parts of the world. Although it
Policies to contain the started as a financial crisis, it quickly evolved into an economic crisis, and
negative consequences of in several European countries took the form of a sovereign debt crisis.
the macroeconomic shock
In the majority of the cases
monetary policy was
Transmission channels
accommodating but
inadequate, since policy Labour market: The decrease in demand for goods and services led to a
interest rates were close to reduction in jobs and a tightening of labour conditions, provoking a drop
zero. Many countries in household income.
depreciated their national Financial market: Loss in private wealth due to asset deterioration and
currencies to counter the restricted access to credit.
drop in international demand. Public sector channel: Rapid deterioration of public finances prompted
However, in the majority of aggressive austerity programmes and diverse responses in the form of
cases the only tool available higher taxes and/or lower spending on public services.
to policymakers was fiscal
Policy responses
policy (e.g. Eurozone).
Governments also
implemented active and
Household impact
passive labour market policies.
Reduced income due to Reduced consumption
unemployment, increased
Stress and domestic violence
taxes and reduced transfers
Social protection
Lack of nurture and care
system responses: Family asset depletion
Social exclusion
Deterioration in access to
Automatic stabilizers,
and quality of services
such as unemployment
insurance and
minimum income.
Direct impact on children and youth
Discretionary policies, Material deprivation Mental health
such as cash payments
in the early period and Nutrition/food security Protection
cuts in public spending Human capital investment Employment opportunities
with different priorities 1. Health
in the second period. 2. Education Fertility
Source: Natali et al. ‘Trends in Child Well-being in EU Countries during the Great Recession’.
Trapped in the cycle of poverty in front of friends and classmates. Poverty is a self-reinforcing cycle.
Children rarely manage to sidestep They are consciously or A child with unemployed parents
the stress and suffering of parents unconsciously affected by changes may do less well at school. Doing
enduring unemployment or a in their diets, the elimination of less well at school may bring
significant reduction in income. sports, music or other activities, or more stress at home. And so on.
They experience downturns in a lack of funds to buy school The longer a child is locked in the
family fortunes in both subtle and materials. Extreme circumstances cycle, the fewer the possibilities
painfully evident ways. They suffer may force their families from their of escape.
minor slights and major humiliations homes or even their countries.
I nnocenti Re p o r t C a r d 1 2 1 5S E C T I O N 3 H o w a f in a nci a l c r isis t u r ne d into a c r isis f o r chi l d r en
Difficulty making ends meet Figure 1 Median income in European households with children
(per exposure)
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the
evolution of median income in 120
European households1 with
Median income – hhs
children, and the percentage of 110
those households that are having with children
great difficulty in making ends 100
meet. The households are
categorized according to the 90
exposure of their national
economies to the recession (see 80
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Box 1). The first case shows a Year
group of 14 (out of 30) countries Most affected Moderately affected Least affected
whose median income decreased, Source: Eurostat. Median income is expressed in 2007 prices, national currency.
with sharp falls in Ireland, Spain and Note: No data for Cyprus, Croatia, Slovakia and Turkey.
the United Kingdom (all around
15 per cent), and even larger drops
Figure 2 European households with children making ends meet with great
in Greece, Iceland and Latvia (all difficulty (per exposure)
24 per cent or higher).
200
Hhs with children making ends
These trends are confirmed in
meet with great difficulty
180
Figure 3, which reports how
families say their circumstances 160
have changed. The proportion of
140
households stating that their
120
situation is ‘very difficult’ has risen
on average in all categories, with 100
the greatest intensity in the
80
countries most affected.2 2006 2008 2010 2012
Year
Children with workless parents
Most affected Moderately affected Least affected
Labour market exclusion and cuts Source: Eurostat.
in social transfers appear to be the Note: No data for Turkey and Croatia; Switzerland (2006); Ireland (2012).
underlying factors driving these
changes. From 2008 to 2012, the
Figure 3 Proportion of households reporting that their feeling about
proportion of households where all household income is ‘very difficult’ (per exposure)
adults were workless increased 120
most in those countries with the
Very difficult to live on
highest incidence of child poverty.3
household income
110
The results of our own research
show that the proportion of children 100
up to age 17 living in jobless
households nearly doubled in 90
Portugal and Spain, and nearly
tripled in Denmark. The largest 80
absolute increases (above 5 per 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Year
cent) were in Bulgaria, Greece,
Ireland and Spain. Most affected Moderately affected Least affected
Source: Gallup World Poll.
Note: Out of the 41 countries covered in this report, the following are not included in this figure:
Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia
and Switzerland.
1 6 I nnocenti Re p o r t C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 3 H o w a f in a nci a l c r isis t u r ne d into a c r isis f o r chi l d r en
Figure 4 shows these trends by the Figure 4 Children in jobless households (per exposure)
exposure of the different groups to
Children 0-17 living in jobless
the recession. The implications of
180
this rise in unemployment were
highlighted by the OECD in a recent 160
households
report: “With more than one in eight 140
working-age individuals in most
countries now living in workless 120
households, the success of 100
redistribution measures and active
social policies is gauged to a large 2006 2008 2010 2012
Year
extent on whether they can improve
economic security for families Most affected Moderately affected Least affected
without any income from work.”4 Source: Eurostat.
Note: No data for Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.
The working poor and other
vulnerable groups
Households with two children have migrant or lone-parent families – and countries, the proportion of
spending needs that are, on the risks multiply. Having a child or households with children unable to
average, 40 per cent higher than children in a household increases face unexpected financial expenses
comparable families without the risk of ‘working poverty’ has increased by almost 60 per
children.5 As a consequence, (working, but below the poverty line) cent, on average. For many
households with children are much from 7 per cent to 11 per cent. For households, their toehold on the
more likely to be poor. Add in other lone parents, this almost doubles lower rungs of middle-class life is
layers of vulnerability – such as (20.2 per cent).6 In the most affected increasingly fragile (see Box 2).
Figure 5 Change in severe child material deprivation in Europe (2008–2012)
50
40
30
Per cent
20
10
0
-10
Poland
Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Norway
Finland
Sweden
Czech Republic
France
Slovenia
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Denmark
Belgium
Spain
Iceland
Estonia
Lithuania
Ireland
Bulgaria
United Kingdom
Malta
Italy
Latvia
Cyprus
Greece
Hungary
Change (2008–2012) 2008 2012
Source: Eurostat.
Note: No data for Croatia.
I nnocenti Re p o r t C a r d 1 2 1 7S E C T I O N 3 H o w a f in a nci a l c r isis t u r ne d into a c r isis f o r chi l d r en
Box 2 Europe: Less income, less protection,
more material deprivation
The overall picture of material well-being of families cent) in 2012 lived in three countries: Italy (16 per
is broadly captured by the ‘severe material cent), Romania (14 per cent) and the United Kingdom
deprivation’ indicator. Children (0–17) are considered (14 per cent).
to be severely materially deprived when the
Provisional estimates for 2013 show that some
household in which they live cannot afford at least
countries – notably Estonia and Latvia – started on
four of the following nine items: 1) to pay rent,
the road to recovery in 2012. However, there are still
mortgage or utilities; 2) to keep the home adequately
reasons to be concerned. The deterioration in the
warm; 3) to face unexpected expenses; 4) to eat
severe material deprivation indicator is mainly related
meat or proteins regularly; 5) to take a holiday; 6) to
to the first five components on the list, those most
have a television; 7) to have a washing machine;
sensitive to household income. The last four
8) to have a car; 9) to have a telephone. In contrast
deprivation items – the so-called ‘durables’ – are
to purely monetary measures of the financial
likely to worsen in the latter phase, as the recession
resources of households, this indicator shows the
continues and families are unable to repair or replace
satisfaction of material fundamental needs.i
their assets.i i i
In 2008, there was an abrupt break in the positive
Material deprivation and income poverty can be
trend of previous years. In the first phase of the
combined for a more complete story of the impact of
recession (2008–2010), the proportion of children
the recession on households with children. Figure 6
with severe material deprivation increased sharply in
shows that in Greece and Iceland – the two countries
the countries most affected by the Great Recession,
at the bottom of the child poverty league table – not
and was relatively stable in the remaining countries.
only has the absolute number of poor children risen
After 2010, deprivation worsened, on average,
dramatically, but it has done so in the context of
everywhere. Two-thirds of the European countries in
increased severe material deprivation. The proportion
this analysis saw material deprivation worsen after
of children who are income poor and severely
2008 (see Figure 5), with the largest absolute
deprived has tripled in Greece and quadrupled in
increases in Cyprus, Greece and Hungary. In relative
Iceland.
terms, the severe child material deprivation rate
doubled in Greece and tripled in Iceland, albeit from
a very low base. In the group of hard-hit countries,
the proportion of severely deprived children nearly
doubled in four years. i
de Neubourg, C., J. Bradshaw, Y. Chzhen, G. Main, B.
The magnitude of this change is worthy of note. The Martorano and L. Menchini, ‘Child Deprivation,
Multidimensional Poverty and Monetary Poverty in
absolute number of children living in severe material Europe’, Innocenti Working Paper No. 2012-02, UNICEF
deprivation in the 30 European countries analysed Innocenti Research Centre, Florence, 2012, p. 1.
was 11.1 million in 2012 –1.6 million more than in ii
There was a break in 2012 in the United Kingdom
2008. This trend is the result of a net effect that series: the figures should be interpreted with caution.
includes substantial decreases (more than 300,000 iii
McKnight, A., ‘Measuring Material Deprivation over
fewer deprived children in Germany and Poland) and the Economic Crisis: Does a re-evaluation of “need”
affect measures of material deprivation?’, Gini Policy
unprecedented increases in four countries (Greece,
Paper 4, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, London
Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom).i i Almost half of School of Economics, 2013. www.gini-research.org/
the severely materially deprived children (44 per system/uploads/553/original/PP4.pdf?1380631527
1 8 I nnocenti Re p o r t C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 3 H o w a f in a nci a l c r isis t u r ne d into a c r isis f o r chi l d r en
Food, shelter and nurture Figure 6 Child poverty and severe material deprivation in Greece
and Iceland (2008 and 2012)
A shortfall in family income is
particularly hard on children. The Greece 2008 Greece 2012
food they eat, where they live, the
time they spend with parents and
friends, and the public services to
which they are entitled – these are
important factors that determine
their well-being.
Access to food Per cent
Daily nutritional intake and the Total poor 23.0
Poor only 16.9
consumption of nutritious food, such
Total deprived 10.4
as fish and vegetables, declined in Deprived only 4.3
the most affected countries during Poor and deprived 6.2
the recession. After 2008, the Per cent
Neither poor nor 72.7
percentage of households with deprived Total poor 40.5
Poor only 22.6
children unable to afford a meal with
Total deprived 20.9
meat, chicken, fish (or a vegetable Deprived only 2.9
equivalent) every second day more
Poor and deprived 17.9
than doubled in Estonia, Greece,
Neither poor nor 56.6
Iceland and Italy, reaching 10 per deprived
cent, 18 per cent, 6 per cent and 16
per cent, respectively, in 2012. Iceland 2008 Iceland 2012
UNICEF National Committees report
that diverse public and private
initiatives have sprung up across
Europe to combat the increasing Per cent
problem of malnutrition, including Total poor 11.2
school meal programmes, food Poor only 10.7
banks and meal vouchers. Total deprived 0.9
Furthermore, some 9 million poor Deprived only 0.4
women and children in the United Poor and deprived 0.6
States receive federal food Neither poor nor 88.4
Per cent
deprived
assistance annually,7 with more than Total poor 31.6
47 million Americans living in Poor only 29.1
households that have difficulty in Total deprived 3.1
Deprived only 0.6
putting food on the table.8 Between
2008 and 2013, the use of food Poor and deprived 2.6
banks by families in Canada Neither poor nor 67.8
deprived
increased by 23 per cent.9
Source: EU-SILC.
Housing conditions
Evictions, mortgage defaults and
mortgages were in negative equity 2008. The recession has also
foreclosures have been a tragic
in 2013. In Greece, at least 60,000 affected savings and economic
reality in a number of countries hit by
house owners faced immediate opportunities throughout the
the recession. In Spain, 244,000
danger of eviction in 2013.10 In the country.11
evictions were registered from 2008
United States, where the financial
to 2012 by the European Federation The cost of housing may be a
crisis began, more than 13 million
of Public, Cooperative & Social challenge for many people long
foreclosures have been filed since
Housing. In Ireland, 400,000 before evictions and foreclosures
I nnocenti Re p o r t C a r d 1 2 1 9S E C T I O N 3 H o w a f in a nci a l c r isis t u r ne d into a c r isis f o r chi l d r en
take place. Rent, mortgage of being contacted by child in the income chain. In the end, how
payments and other housing costs protective services.16 the impacts are spread depends less
are generally the largest on the depth of the recession and
Essential services
expenditure in a family budget. The more on the existing economic
As family incomes decrease and
proportion of children in families structure and social safety nets and,
contextual conditions deteriorate, so
overburdened by housing costs has most importantly, on policy
risk in children’s lives increases. And
increased in 19 European countries responses.
the capacity of governments and
since 2008.12 In some cases, lack of
public institutions to protect them To assess whether the impact of the
access to affordable housing leads
has not improved accordingly in recession did fall disproportionately
to homelessness of children and
critical areas such as health and on children, the situation of average
other extreme consequences.13
education. In European countries children was compared to that of
Parental time and care that have been moderately and the poorest children in the income
The quantity and quality of time that severely affected by the recession, distribution chain. The impact on
parents spend with their children is the proportion of young adults with children in particularly vulnerable
affected by income reductions and unmet health needs has increased groups, such as migrants, lone-
contextual stress. Loss of parental significantly since 2008. More than a parent families and workless
time is more acute in poorer third of OECD countries reduced households, was also assessed, as
families, contrary to conventional public education spending after were the impacts on children
wisdom.14 Long working hours, less 2010, and several more froze it.17 compared to the impact on other
help at home and a lack of leisure These cuts will have both short-term traditionally vulnerable social groups,
activities can have a debilitating and long-term impacts. such as the elderly, as well as on
effect on family relationships, society in general.
Have children suffered most?
affecting children in critical periods
How does an economic crisis affect Impacts on the poorest
of intellectual and emotional
development. For separated or inequality? Inequality can lessen if Since 2008, the position of the
divorced couples in Italy, for better-off households lose income, poorest children has actually
instance, income constraints caused while poorer sectors of society worsened in most of the countries
by the recession add to the remain protected by existing public studied. The poverty gap indicator
pressure on already stressed policies and safety nets. But (see Figure 7) captures the depth of
relationships.15 Trends in violence inequality can worsen if the weight this phenomenon by measuring the
against children also feel an impact: of the recession falls on the weakest distance from the poverty line to the
in the United States, the drop in
consumer confidence since 2007
Figure 7 Change in poverty gap vs change in headcount (2008–2012)
has been associated with a
Change poverty gap= 1.0352 + .22455 change headcount
considerable increase in the
GR
incidence of mothers hitting their 10
Change in poverty gap (anchored)
ES
children frequently. We find that the
DK HU
large decline in consumer 5 SK CY
AT SE NL IT IS
LV
confidence during the Great BE PT
PL CZ SI
Recession, as measured by the 0 CH FR
EE LU IE
BG
FI
Consumer Sentiment Index, has NO
DE
UK
LT
been associated with worse -5 MT
parenting behaviour. In particular, RO
lower levels of consumer
-10
confidence are associated with -10 0 10 20
increased levels of high-frequency Change in headcount (anchored)
spanking, a parenting behaviour that Fitted values
is associated with greater likelihood
R-squared=0.1426
Source: Eurostat for the anchored headcount; EU-SILC for the anchored poverty gap.
2 0 I nnocenti Re p o r t C a r d 1 2S E C T I O N 3 H o w a f in a nci a l c r isis t u r ne d into a c r isis f o r chi l d r en
Box 3 The crisis in Greece through a child’s eyes
The indicators in this Report Card do not fully capture stopped going on holiday trips (see Figure 8).
how children’s views of their lives have changed. To Around one student in ten had to stop tutoring
gain a deeper insight into the perspectives of sessions or had to move to another area or to a
children, we commissioned early analysis of the relative’s house, and 3 per cent switched from
most recent Health Behaviour in School-aged private to public schools.
Children (HBSC) survey (2014) on the behaviour of
The children surveyed were perceptive about other
11-, 13- and 15-year-old students in Greece, one of
consequences of the recession, such as increased
the countries most affected by the recession. The
stress on parents from income cuts or job losses.
results are instructive.
These events affect family relationships, as seen in
Despite the best efforts of families to insulate their the large share (as high as 27 per cent) of those
offspring from the worst consequences of the reporting tension and fights within their families. The
recession, school children in Greece revealed that proportion of children reporting high satisfaction with
they are highly aware of problems that affect their relationships within the family dropped by 3 per cent
immediate context. Those reporting that their between 2006 and 2014. As for their overall life
family’s economic situation is ‘not well off’ doubled satisfaction, the share of children reporting a high
from 7.2 per cent in 2006 to 14.5 per cent in 2014. quality of life dropped by almost 10 per cent over the
An increasing share of them said that the economic same period.
situation of the area where they live had worsened
(from 22.2 per cent to 29.5 per cent in the same
i
period).i In 2014, more than one child in five reported Kokkevi, A., M. Stavrou, E. Kanavou and A. Fotiou.
‘The Repercussions of the Economic Recession in
that at least one parent had lost their job, 5 per cent
Greece on Adolescents and their Families’, Innocenti
said their family could not afford to buy food, and Working Paper No. 2014-07, UNICEF Office of
almost 30 per cent reported that the family had Research, Florence, 2014.
Figure 8 Children’s self-reporting of the effects of the crisis in Greece
at least one parent lost job 21.3
inability to buy food 5.4
no vacation/travelling 27.9
stopped tutoring 10.5
changed school 3
moved to other area 8.2
family tension 27.3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Per cent
Source: 2014 HBSC survey.
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