2023-11-23 11:28:17
Anyone who grows up in poverty feels it worse starting conditions still in adulthood. Poorer educational opportunities, fewer opportunities in the labor market and the associated lower income are just a few examples of what those affected by poverty in childhood have to contend with later. But child poverty is also expensive for the stateone presented today OECD Study according to 17.2 billion euros annually.
➤ Read more: Save the Children: Every fourth child in Europe is affected by poverty
“These data are a task for politicians to address structural improvements,” said the Minister of Social Affairs John Rauch (Greens) at the study presentation on Thursday. The OECD study commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs examined this social situation and well-being of children in Austria in 2021. According to her, the social situation of children in Austria is stable in a European OECD comparison. The proportion of children affected by income poverty is at 13 percent, just above average (12.4 percentt). At eight percent, the proportion of children who lack necessities is well below the average (12 percent).
Around eight percent (European OECD average: 11) of all children have parents with them low educational qualifications. At 18 percent, comparatively fewer children in Austria have at least one of these three indicators social disadvantage affected than in others OECD countries (23).
➤ Read more: Why poor children stay poor
The OECD sees a need for improvement, particularly in the accuracy of family benefits. Especially at Single parents These account for just over half as large a share of child-related expenses as in two-parent households. According to the study, politicians should also do more for them early childhood education and care. At 0.5 percent of GDP, significantly less money flowed into this area than in the leading OECD countries Sweden (1.6), Denmark and France (both 1.3). “Equality of opportunity begins in childhood”Rauch saw the study as a commission.
Illness and unemployment due to child poverty
“Poverty makes you sick,” emphasized the minister. In Austria, around five percent of all children lived in 2021 cramped and damp or poorly equipped living spaces. But Austria offers one of the best accesses socialsystem. According to the OECD, 99 percent of all parents feel that their children’s needs are covered by core medical services.
➤ Read more: Poverty in Austria: “It’s never been this bad”
In order to improve children’s life prospects, one must first “promote parents’ employment, support a fairer distribution of care responsibilities between parents and reduce child poverty,” he also emphasized Yoshiki Takeuchi, Deputy Secretary General of the OECD. The OECD also calculates the follow-up costs of unemployment or poorer health caused by child poverty 17.2 billion euros or 3.6 percent of the Austrian gross domestic product. The state budget loses money overall 5.6 billion euros through lost income taxes and social security contributions, while the increased need for social benefits causes additional government costs 700 million euros.
“How much does child poverty cost us?”
The key question is not ‘How much does it cost to fight child poverty?’ but ‘What does child poverty cost us?'” Rauch clarified. Specifically, he sees more accurate family benefits, improved employment opportunities for parents and an expansion of childcare and non-profit housing as measures to combat child poverty. Also the debate regarding early selection in the education sector – separation in middle school and AHS from the fifth year onwards – he wants to start once more.
The question of one is also becoming unavoidable for politics Basic child protection be what Rauch stands for. However, this is no longer to be expected in this legislative period, because “the ÖVP cannot be persuaded to do that,” said Rauch in response to questions from journalists.
The People’s Aid Director sees his own criticism confirmed in the OECD study Erich Fenninger. The study underlines demands that Volkshilfe has been making for a long time, such as more effective measures and better child care. Even in the health sector, where the Austrian study gives good results, more investments are needed, especially in the expansion of therapy checkout places, said Fenninger in a press release.
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