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Economic Poverty: Does the Break-Up of Families Matter?

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  • Maria Alessandra Antonelli

    (Department of Legal and Economic Studies, Faculty of Law, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Valeria De Bonis

    (Department of Legal and Economic Studies, Faculty of Law, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the relationship between family structure and poverty for European countries using Eurostat and OECD data. In particular, we focus on the change in living arrangements, with the traditional type of household—couple with children—being partially replaced by single and extended families. The results of our econometric analysis show that the decline in the traditional family type affects individual poverty: the marriage rate and the share of couples, both with and without children, are inversely related to poverty; the divorce rate, the shares of extended families and singles with children are, instead, positively related to poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Alessandra Antonelli & Valeria De Bonis, 2021. "Economic Poverty: Does the Break-Up of Families Matter?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:6:p:224-:d:572804
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Jabulile Lindiwe Makhalima, 2022. "An Analysis of Poverty in Households Headed by Millennials in South Africa," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 12(6), pages 38-44, November.

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