Material deprivation in the EU: A multi-level analysis on the influence of decommodification and defamilisation policies

Abstract

The central aim of this paper is identifying the existing political leeway for the reduction of deprivation levels in Europe. The links between household and individual characteristics and risks of material deprivation have been abundantly researched, but what are the political institutions that modify and possibly buffer these odds? Welfare state differences have been portrayed in depth but their association with social outcomes such as deprivation is less clear. By identifying the impact of decommodification and defamilisation policies on deprivation exposure, we seek to fill this gap. Our results, based on European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions 2012 to 2013 cross-sectional micro data, reveal that social programmes that cover large segments of the population and follow a needs-based approach are linked to lower odds of being materially deprived. A significant number of European cross-country differences in deprivation rates can thus be traced back to varying levels of social assistance, as well as to differences in the provision of public healthcare. Defamilisation policies are, despite increased risks for (single parent) families, not yet addressing the problem of low living standards successfully. An extension of childcare services, however, seems promising for lowering deprivation among families, particularly in countries with high levels of involuntary part-time work.