Lay Explanation of Poverty During the Pandemic in Hungary

Eszter Siposne Nandori

doi:10.33422/eje.v1i1.45

Abstract

The paper analyzes perceived causes of poverty in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary, one of the most disadvantaged areas of the country. Data collection was carried out in the second half of 2020 using consensus theory and the methods of systematic data collection. The aim of the research is to discover whether support for explanations which blame structural conditions is dominant in the public perception of poverty during the pandemic. From the research discussed it is clear that structural conditions are not dominant and that the poor are often seen as being themselves responsible for their unfavourable situation. The COVID-19 pandemic is not associated with a high support for the social type of lay explanations.

Highlights

COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on economic and social processes
The hypothesis that the main lay explanations of poverty are structural in Borsod-AbaújZemplén County, Hungary, was rejected
In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic and social downturn, the poor are seen by the public as being themselves responsible for their unfavourable situation

Summary

Introduction

COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on economic and social processes. Employment has fallen, while the number of registered job-seekers and the at-risk-of poverty rate have increased compared to the pre-crisis level. The effect of the pandemic on the lay explanation of poverty, is not clear. The impact of the pandemic on the public perception of poverty is relevant because unusual social and/or economic strains can strengthen social beliefs making them temporarily dominant (Hunt, 1996; Kluegel and Smith, 1986; Lee et al, 1990; Marquis, 2020). The paper tests whether social types of poverty explanations are dominant during the pandemic. This paper begins with s short review of the literature regarding lay explanations of poverty, followed by the applied methodology.

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