Wednesday, February 17, 2010

11 million Germans in poverty

More than 11 million Germans are now living in poverty according to a new study. The numbers of German people who have fallen below the poverty line has grown by a third in the last decade.

The study authors do not recommend expansion of welfare programs to combat the growing poverty problem, instead they recommend more investments in child care and better earning opportunities.

From The Local, we read more about the new statistics for Germany.

According to the alarming figures published by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), the number of people below the poverty line - 14 percent of the total population - expanded by a third in the last ten years.

The study analysed income data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), which operates under the DIW. It found that young people between the ages of 19 and 25 and families were at particular risk.

Reasons for the surge in poverty included growing numbers of young people seeking higher education, the extension of time spent training, a precarious post-study job market, and a trend toward leaving their parents’ home at an earlier age.

Large families are also at higher risk for poverty, the DIW said. About 22 percent of those with three children are at risk for poverty, while it was more than 36 percent for those with four children.

“Compared to 1998, the poverty risk for homes with many children has risen substantially,” said study co-author Joachim Frick, adding that this was despite an increase in child care facilities and more money for families from the government.

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Poverty A subject said...
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