This thesis examines the factors contributing to poverty and vulnerability in Italy, focusing on how households become poor and the risks they face due to adverse circumstances. Vulnerability to poverty, an ex-ante measure, captures the probability of a household falling into poverty in the future, making it crucial to identifying those most at risk. Based on the Survey of Household Income and Wealth (SHIW), the concept of vulnerability to poverty will be presented both qualitatively, by reviewing the most significant definitions in the literature, and quantitatively, through logit and regression models, implemented to identify the poverty risk thresholds with a dynamic approach, associating the predicted probabilities to be vulnerable to the equivalent household income. The results indicate significant regional disparities, with households in southern Italy, those lacking higher education and those unable to save, facing higher risks of poverty. Vulnerability analysis also reveals that vulnerable households are not completely conscious about their condition, making the study even more important in terms of information. In Italy the number of vulnerable households is almost double the number of the effectively poor households, reinforcing the idea that it is important to prevent poverty trap or situation in which households are unaware of their risky status. Policy implications highlight the need for targeted interventions, including enhancing social safety nets, promoting financial literacy and addressing regional inequalities.
Date of Award | 14 Oct 2024 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Joana Silva (Supervisor) |
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- Poverty risk
- Vulnerability
- Household disparities
- Socioeconomic determinants
- Social policy
Understanding and identifying poverty and vulnerability in Italy
Delgado, S. (Student). 14 Oct 2024
Student thesis: Master's Thesis