Higher Risk Of Poverty Research Articles

Factors affecting the adoption of RFID in the food supply chain: a systematic literature review

The unsustainability of the current food system raises food security concerns worldwide due to the population’s increased demand for fresh food and food safety. Unsafe food incidents lead to a high risk of poverty and economic loss. This includes food waste, safety, and security during the sustainable food system process from farm production to consumer. There is a need to implement a fast traceability system like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the sustainable food system to ensure food quality and safety, meet customer demands, and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 1—No poverty, 2—Zero hunger and 13—Climate action for 2030 target. The study objective was to explore the factors that affect the adoption of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the food supply chain. The study adopted the TOE (technology-organization-environment) framework to explore factors that affect RFID adoption in the food supply chain. The study utilized a systematic literature review to examine the TOE factors influencing the adoption of RFID in the food supply chain. The results indicate that technological (complexity, cost, and security), organizational (technical skill and management support), and environmental (maintenance and support, IT policies and regulations) are the major factors that affect the adoption of RFID in the sustainable food system industry. The study recommends organisations intending to adopt RFID allocate enough resources and be prepared to overcome RFID adoption external challenges. The study concludes that technological factors, organizational factors, and environmental factors are important factors for RFID adoption in the food supply chain. However, further empirical studies are necessary to overcome the challenges of systematic literature review based on secondary data and convenience sampling.

Multiple Indicator Vulnerability to Energy Poverty: Assessing Spatial Variability Across Chile

This study investigates the multifaceted issue of energy poverty, focusing on its spatial and socioeconomic dimensions, with a particular emphasis on the case of Chile. Despite global initiatives like Sustainable Development Goal 7, which advocates for universal access to affordable and reliable energy, millions remain vulnerable to energy poverty. In Chile, this phenomenon is exacerbated by geographic and climatic variability, resulting in significant disparities in energy access, affordability, and efficiency. Using a multidimensional framework adapted from Bouzarovski and Petrova, we assessed energy poverty through factors including household income, fuel costs, energy infrastructure reliability, and regional climate needs. This analysis integrated composite indicators to map vulnerability at the regional level, highlighting high-risk areas primarily in the central and southern regions, where low incomes and dependency on biomass for heating amplified exposure occur. The findings reveal that approximately 4 million Chileans face a high risk of energy poverty, underscoring the need for regionally tailored policies that address both immediate economic constraints and structural energy inequalities. This research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of energy poverty in Chile and offers policy recommendations aimed at reducing socioeconomic disparities and achieving sustainable, equitable energy access.

Parenthood and poverty risk within couples: individual and household poverty risks by gender and education in four European countries

Abstract This study examines how the presence of children is associated with poverty risk within different-sex couples across welfare state regimes, using no- and full-income pooling scenarios. It focuses on whether partners can achieve an adequate living standard without relying on family ties, and how the costs of children shape poverty risk within these scenarios. Using cross-sectional EU-SILC data (2016–2019) on 30,150 coresidential couples from Austria, France, Spain, and Sweden, I use linear probability models (LPM) to estimate household and individual poverty risks among partners with/out children, by education, gender and country. The results indicate that poverty risks vary by gender, income pooling scenario and country. While partners bear household poverty risks together, there is a pronounced gender gap in individual poverty risk across countries. Men, regardless of their education and fatherhood status, have a relatively low individual poverty risk, with little difference between income pooling scenarios. Conversely, women, especially low-educated mothers, have a higher individual than household poverty risk. Observed cross-country variations highlight that the relationship between motherhood and poverty risk is context-specific. Although education is often promoted as a shield against poverty, in some countries, such as Austria, highly educated mothers also face a high individual poverty risk.

Health of single mothers and fathers in Germany. Results of the GEDA studies 2019 - 2023.

The living situation of single parents is often characterised by sole responsibility for family and household, problems in reconciling work and family life, and a high risk of poverty. In a comparative perspective with parents in partner households, the health of single mothers and fathers was analysed, considering differences in their social status. The analyses are based on data from the GEDA studies 2019 - 2023 (7,999 women, 6,402 men). Prevalences for single mothers and fathers and mothers and fathers living in partner households were calculated for self-rated health, chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, smoking and utilisation of professional help for mental health problems. In multivariate models, adjustments were made for income, education, employment status and social support, and interactions with family type were included. Single mothers and fathers show higher prevalences for all health indicators in comparison to parents living in partner households. Also after adjustment, the differences between family types remain significant. The health of single mothers also varies partially with income, employment status and social support. Health promotion measures have to consider that single parents are a heterogeneous group. In addition to strengthening personal skills, policy and setting-based interventions aim to reduce health inequalities.

Energy demand and air quality in social housing buildings: A novel critical review

Social housing buildings, throughout Europe, represent a consistent share of the existing building stock. Due to the increasing levels of urbanization, the social housing population in the cities has risen and, after the economic crisis following the subprime mortgage crisis and the pandemic, low-income families as well. The greatest part of social dwellings, those built in the previous century, is usually sub-standard from an energy and environmental point of view. This study reviews the existing literature documenting indoor environmental conditions and energy refurbishment interventions or programs to improve the energy efficiency of existing social buildings. By considering the high risk of energy poverty in social contexts, and the socio-economic conditions of tenants, the economic implications deriving from the energy retrofit were also evidenced. Relevant papers published between 2010 and 2024 were reviewed and were divided according to the reference scale, namely the building or the district scale. The review shows the need to improve the energy performances of social dwellings, both to reduce their energy demand and to improve the indoor microclimatic conditions and quality of life of tenants. Through a critical literature review approach, this study provides a contribution to the in-depth understanding of the role of social housing in the contemporary context, providing meaningful insights for formulating more effective and inclusive housing policies for the next future.

Gender differences in old-age poverty in 14 EU countries: exploring the role of household structure

The risk of poverty among older people varies widely across countries and between men and women. This is usually explained by reference to institutional differences in pension systems or differences in employment histories. However, many other factors also come into play. In this paper we argue that, to avoid biased conclusions, it is necessary to take into account the role of household structure. This study of 14 European Union (EU) countries investigates the impact of household structure on gender differences in old-age poverty risk. The empirical examination is based on European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). The findings show that older women’s high poverty risk is strongly related to the financial vulnerability of single-person households and the higher prevalence of female than male single-person households. In addition, gender differences in poverty risk can be attributed to gender differences in household structure. It matters whether the older person lives with another older person or an employed/unemployed person and whether there are minor children in the household. Country differences in the gender poverty gap are linked to country differences in the household age structure and the poverty risks of different types of households.

How much does immigration contribute to national poverty rates? A decomposition analysis for 17 European welfare states

Abstract Over the past decades, many European welfare states failed to reduce poverty. We examine two coinciding trends: the inability to lower poverty rates, and the growth of immigrant populations. Immigrants have become the main contributor to population growth in Europe and have higher poverty risks than natives. This contribution quantifies to what extent national poverty rates were driven by population change. We present a Kitagawa–Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition of national poverty rates in 17 western European countries between 2005 and 2019 using EU-SILC data. The effect of shifting EU and non-EU immigrant populations on poverty rates is heterogeneous: while poverty in some countries increased substantially due to compositional changes, for the majority the effect was small or negligible, including in countries with above-average growth of foreign-born populations. Overall, in two-thirds of country–years changes in the population composition were not the main driver of national poverty rates.

The impact of austerity on children: Uncovering effect heterogeneity by political, economic, and family factors in low- and middle-income countries

Which children are most vulnerable when their government imposes austerity? Research tends to focus on either the political-economic level or the family level. Using a sample of nearly two million children in 67 countries, this study synthesizes theories from family sociology and political science to examine the heterogeneous effects on child poverty of economic shocks following the implementation of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. To discover effect heterogeneity, we apply machine learning to policy evaluation. We find that children's average probability of falling into poverty increases by 14 percentage points. We find substantial effect heterogeneity, with family wealth and governments' education spending as the two most important moderators. In contrast to studies that emphasize the vulnerability of low-income families, we find that middle-class children face an equally high risk of poverty. Our results show that synthesizing family and political factors yield deeper knowledge of how economic shocks affect children.

Stressful Living Conditions in Nuclear, Single Parent and Stepfamilies and Use of Prevention Services. Findings of Two Representative German Studies

Comparison of (stressful) living conditions and use of universal, selective and indicated prevention services in nuclear, single parent and stepfamilies with young children. Using two representative German surveys of mothers with children aged 0-3 years (KiD 0-3 2015, n=6,671, and AID:A 2019, n=1,501), mothers' reported burden and the use of various prevention services in different family types were examined descriptively and with Chi²-tests. Overall, single parent families and, to some extent, stepfamilies showed increased socioeconomic stress compared to nuclear families (e. g., young motherhood, higher poverty risk). In particular, universal prevention services (e. g., prenatal classes, parent-child courses) were used less frequently by single parent families, while selective and indicated services such as family or child guidance counselling services and offers of youth welfare agencies were used more frequently. Increased socioeconomic stress suggests a higher need for support among single parents compared to nuclear families. Universal group offers are possibly not sufficient to meet these needs, whereas selective individual counselling offers such as pregnancy and child guidance counseling are used more frequently by single parent families and stepfamilies compared to nuclear families. There seems to be a lack of (group) offers tailored to single parent families - particularly in the first developmental phase of a child's life.

Mental health promotion in the elderly in Slovenian local communities

Abstract Issue/problem Key issues in the elderly's mental health are: growing trends in mental disorders (dementia, depression), social exclusion with consequent lack of information, awareness and poorer access to prevention and assistance programs, discrimination, and high risk of poverty after retirement (especially in women). The public health challenge is to cope with these issues, as the share of the elderly population rapidly increases, also across European countries. Description of the problem According to the Resolution of the National Mental Health Program 2018-2028, and Action Plan 2021-2023, an interdisciplinary working group for mental health promotion among the elderly was established. Basic goals were prepared through regular meetings: adequately providing necessary information for the target population and enabling better networking of key actors in the field of mental health, including cooperation with existing networks. Specific activities ( >>Open hours for elderly << and >>Longevity society fairs <<) were implemented in the local communities. Results Twenty-one events, broadly promoted in the local communities, were realized. Different stakeholders were supported with developed materials (brochures, leaflets). A national conference on decreasing loneliness and social exclusion in the elderly was organized. Lessons Supportive environment for the empowerment of key actors and their continuous cooperation, could improve information flow, competencies, and inclusion of the target population in the local community and consequently decrease stigma. Despite pandemic measures, activities were realized, as recognized to be necessary. Regular financial support of less developed communities is a precondition for preventing inequities between communities. Key messages • A sensitized, empowered, connected, proactive and supported local community is a key for improving elderly's quality of life. • A connected and empowered local community is a precondition to prevent further stigmatization of the elderly.

Unemployment of parents — one of the poverty causes in families with children

Families with children in Russia are at high risk of poverty. The economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the sanctions imposed in spring 2022 make social policy a priority. It is necessary to pay a stronger attention to groups of population at higher risk of poverty. In recent years the support for families with children has been strengthened and the circle of potential recipients of assistance expanded (raising the age of children, lifting restrictions on the type of family). Additional support measures provided to families with children to reduce the negative effects of the crisis helped to alleviate the severity of poverty but did not change the position of families with children on the welfare scale, they are still the largest group of the poor (according to Rosstat they make 80% of all poor households). It seems important to identify the main factors of poverty of families with children, which include, not least, the limited employment of parents. The main purpose of the study is to show, using the data of the statistical survey (HBS-2019), the scale of unemployment and its impact on families with children as well as gender characteristics of the phenomenon of unemployment. Financial assistance to families with children should be combined with work to activate the actions of families for self-sufficiency.

Current Problems of the Adequacy of Public Pensions in Bulgaria

This article aims to uncover, describe, and analyze existing inconsistencies between the parameters of the Bulgarian public pension system and international adequacy standards applicable to old-age pensions and embedded in Convention No. 102 of the International Labour Organization and the revised European Social Charter of the Council of Europe. The thesis is that the identified gaps, as they relate to the legislative framework but not to actions of national social policy authorities in implementing the legislation, are a result of political decisions that consistently undermine international commitments in the social policy area undertaken by Bulgaria. These decisions weaken important pension policy functions and especially its protection, insurance and distribution functions. The outcomes are higher risk of poverty among the elderly, decline in their economic status after retirement and vulnerability for pensioners during periods of sharp rise in the cost of living. Some issues about the future adequacy of public pensions within the interaction between public state social insurance and supplementary mandatory pension insurance are also discussed.

Prevalence of Poverty and Hunger at Cancer Diagnosis and Its Association with Malnutrition and Overall Survival in South Africa

Many South African children live in poverty and food insecurity; therefore, malnutrition within the context of childhood cancer should be examined. Parents/caregivers completed the Poverty-Assessment Tool (divided into poverty risk groups) and the Household Hunger Scale questionnaire in five pediatric oncology units. Height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference assessments classified malnutrition. Regression analysis evaluated the association of poverty and food insecurity with nutritional status, abandonment of treatment, and one-year overall survival (OS). Nearly a third (27.8%) of 320 patients had a high poverty risk, associated significantly with stunting (p = 0.009), food insecurity (p < 0.001) and residential province (p < 0.001) (multinomial regression). Stunting was independently and significantly associated with one-year OS on univariate analysis. The hunger scale was significant predictor of OS, as patients living with hunger at home had an increased odds ratio for treatment abandonment (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.0; 19.4; p = 0.045) and hazard for death (HR 3.2; 95% CI 1.02, 9.9; p = 0.046) compared to those with food security. Evaluating sociodemographic factors such as poverty and food insecurity at diagnosis is essential among South African children to identify at-risk children and implement adequate nutritional support during cancer treatment.

Digitalni marketing kao alat za inkluzivno zapošljavanje

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) represent the largest minority in the world who are still not adequately represented in the labour market and are therefore at higher risk of poverty and material deprivation. Digital marketing has the potential to close this gap by enabling PWDs to work remotely and access a wider range of employment opportunities. With the right support and accessibility measures, PWDs can use their skills and talents in digital marketing to contribute to their economic empowerment and inclusion in society. Considering that participation in digital labour platforms is an accepted labour practice in Serbia, this paper represents a pilot study aimed at gaining insights into the requirements of the digital labour market with a focus on digital marketing. To this end, the requirements of entry-level marketing positions on one of the most popular platforms for freelancers - Upwork - were investigated. The main objective of this analysis is to provide sound suggestions for the development of training programmes and mentoring initiatives tailored to enable PWDs in Serbia to become self-employed and increase their chances of earning additional income.

MORTALITY RISK BY STATE-LEVEL POVERTY IN COLOMBIA AT DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Abstract Residence in high poverty states has been associated with increased mortality risk in the United States, but less attention has been paid to the relationship between state-level poverty and mortality in younger to older adults in Latin America. Poorer states in Colombia, one of the most populous and rapidly aging countries in Latin America, tend to report less access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. We examine the relationship between mortality and state-level poverty in Colombia by age and gender. We use data from the 2018 Colombian Census and Vital Statistics to calculate mortality levels and male-female ratios in mortality separately for three broad age categories: young (ages 20-39), middle-aged (40-69), and older adults (70 or older). We find an association between high poverty and high mortality risk among younger men, no association for middle-aged men, and a negative association between mortality risk and poverty among older men. We did not find any evidence for an association between state-level poverty and mortality at any ages. Our results highlight that, for men at older ages, poverty had a counterintuitive association with mortality. These results may be due to selective survival older ages in Colombia or to older adults who are aging into a social safety net that includes healthcare and income benefits. Future research should investigate the impact that unequal access to economic resources and distribution of health care resources has on women and men across age groups in Colombia.

Caring about The Caregivers: Challenges for Female Caregivers in Lithuanian and Estonian Labour Law

ABSTRACT While considerable efforts are being made to consolidate and implement the principle of gender equality, the gender pay gap remains a real problem. One of the reasons for this gap is the traditional role of women in caring for children and other relatives. By devoting a significant part of their time to the unpaid care function, women have fewer opportunities to participate in employment relationships. This leads to women’s poorer financial situation, limited career opportunities, and a higher risk of poverty in old age. Therefore, both at the EU and national level, there has been a search for optimal ways to enable female caregivers to remain in the labour market and ensure their income levels. This article provides an overview of the situation of female caregivers and the legal measures taken by Lithuania and Estonia (both EU Member States) to improve the situation of women performing unpaid care functions in labour relationships.

Empirical Evidence on the Incidence and Persistence of Energy Poverty in Australia

AbstractEnergy poverty is a temporary condition, yet a non‐negligible share of the Australian population suffers persistent energy disadvantage. Using the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, we observe that single individuals, single‐parent households and those with a disabled household member are at high risk of persistent energy poverty. This is also true for non‐working individuals and immigrants from non‐English‐speaking countries. Nevertheless, highly educated individuals, those living in metropolitan areas and homeowners are less likely to persistently experience energy poverty. Government investment in energy efficiency is crucial to reduce electricity bills and have healthier homes.

Introduction

Introduction

The Use of Cluster Analysis to Assess the Threats of Poverty or Social Exclusion in EU Countries: The Case of People with Disabilities Compared to People without Disabilities

The main research objective was to assess the range of threats related to poverty or social exclusion in EU countries among people with disabilities as compared to people without disabilities. The research used the available poverty determinants, including the percentage of low work intensity, the percentage of low income, the percentage of material deprivation, the poverty risk rate, the percentage of severe disability, living conditions and population income, and the overall risk of household poverty or exclusion, which are available in Eurostat databases. The data used in the research relates to 2018 and was published in 2021. The research used cluster analysis, more specifically one of the agglomeration clustering methods, i.e., Ward’s method. Separate cluster analysis using Ward’s method was carried out for people with disabilities and for people without disabilities. The analysis identifies two clusters among people with disabilities and two clusters among people without disabilities. In the group of people with disabilities, cluster 2 includes 19 countries with a higher risk of poverty or social exclusion, while cluster 1 includes eight countries with a lower risk of poverty or social exclusion. In turn, in the group of people without disabilities, cluster 2 includes nine countries with a higher risk of poverty or social exclusion, while cluster 1 includes 18 countries with a lower risk of poverty or social exclusion.

Families with high school children: the need for social assistance

Families with children in Russia have a high risk of poverty. Often mothers do not work in these families, and the income of working family members together with social support measures are not sufficient. In recent years, support for families with children has been priority of social policy. At the same time, the State social assistance depends on the age of a child, and as the child is growing older the social assistance is decreasing. Until 2021 the whole variety of monetary payments to children was limited to the age category of 7 years (for all families) and up to 17 years (for single-parent families). These age limits put other children at a disadvantage as compared to children receiving assistance. That's why in March 2022 the Government announced a monthly cash payment for all children living in low-income families aged from 8 to 17 years. The next age limit for children in low-income families getting social support leaves without benefits children aged 17-18 years. Usually they do not have their own income, but they require not less, but more family expenses for their maintenance. The main goal of the study was to show that families with children aged 16-17 bear the same expenses as families with children under 16 years of age, but they have no additional sources of income. The study was based on the data from a population survey (Household Budget Survey-2019) and a longitudinal survey of families with school-age children (Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of HSE2018-2019). The study emphasized the need of social support for families with senior school-age children.