Poverty in Switzerland

In this paper we first discuss the conceptual problems concerning the identification and aggregation of poverty. We then describe the data collected in the framework of the National Poverty Study and present a selection of the main results. For example, our results indicate that poverty has decreased massively between 1982 and 1992 in the population above 60, but has increased noticeable in the population between 20 and 39. Particularly remarkable is the increase of the so-called working poor. Most affected by poverty are households in the age groups below 40, households in peripheral, agricultural-bound communities, individuals living alone, singe parents, divorced persons, foreigners, subgroups of the self-employed, individuals below retirement age who are not part of the work force, and persons living in the French and the Italian speaking area. Our results also demonstrate that the poor suffer more often from a large number of other problems in addition to their lack of resources. Overall, they imply that the current social security system needs some modifications in response to the major changes that have occurred over the last two decades.