Multidimensional Poverty, Multilevel Governance and Poverty Reduction Strategies in Times of Austerity

Poverty is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon, and responses to poverty need to be adapted to a wide range of circumstances.  Different aspects of the problem ask for interventions on a different scale and the involvement of local, provincial, regional and national government.

Fighting poverty involves targeting when resources are limited and the role of the state is diminishing. The shift towards more governance in the way social policies are developed implies the enhancement of the actors   involved on different policy levels.  

Also, due to demographic change and increased service costs on long-term care; rising unemployment, especially amongst the young; and a desire for greater independence and choice for all in need of social care, many countries in Europe are faced with problems in the financing of public services.

Increasing cut-backs of national state funding have a great impact on national and the local level. As a reaction, there is an increasing need of cooperation between state and non-state actors on the local level and the European level.

This paper explores the challenges of service delivery to those in need in times of austerity. It seeks to provide answers to the question of what type of approaches, and under which conditions, may be most effective in order to improve outcomes for poor and vulnerable people especially in those countries affected by the crisis.

This paper presents evidence EU SILC about the impact of the economic downturn on social services. It examines social transfers’ performance over time in defending people from the worst effects of rising unemployment and falling incomes.

Local and regional government is responsible for managing this situation and ought to re- examine, re-target and re-prioritize social expenditure as a result.