Most children in the Nordic Region grow up in families with stable finances and in safe, nurturing environments. However, some families face significant challenges. In several Nordic countries, the gap between the highest and lowest income groups appears to be widening. When parents are unable to meet their needs over time due to unemployment or insufficient income, it negatively affects their children. A key concern is that the interaction between economic, social, and health challenges within a family can reinforce one another in a detrimental way. Over time, this may increase the risk of children facing marginalisation and social exclusion.
This project, conducted in collaboration with the Nordic Welfare Centre and funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, aims to enhance knowledge about the situation of children growing up in low-income families in the Nordic Region, the implications of this, and potential policy responses to address the issue. The project will result in a report that highlights good practice examples and policies aimed at promoting social mobility and inclusion for children and young people from low-income families. The focus will be on measures that support both the family situation and the children’s opportunities. Furthermore, the report will explore what is known about the experiences of children and young people growing up in low-income households.
As part of this work, Nordregio will provide an overview of child poverty (At-Risk-of-Poverty) and material deprivation in the Nordic Region, examining various definitions of poverty and the circumstances of children growing up in different types of families. In addition, the chapter offers an overview of the availability of data on children in low-income families and suggests improvements to support the development of a common framework for monitoring child poverty across the Nordic Region.
Upcoming events:
Webinar: Scope and development of the risks of poverty for children in the Nordic Countries
Debate: Hur ser barnfattigdomen ut i Norden och vad gör vi åt den?
