Poverty Exposure and Poverty Persistence for Large Families in Western Europe. a Dynamic Perspective

This paper investigates income poverty in 14 Western European countries from 2004 to 2019, utilizing EU-SILC longitudinal data. The study employs descriptive tables and panel regression model to examine poverty exposure and accumulation of poverty events over time for families with different numbers of dependent children. The findings reveal that in all countries the reiteration of poverty spells, net of persistence dynamics, primarily results from higher risks for large families of falling back into poverty and experiencing carousels of poverty reoccurrence, especially among single-earner households. All in all, analyses suggest the necessity for integrated policies combining timely social transfers, contingent upon the current spell of poverty, with mid-term follow-up programs in the form of preventive measures tailored to families with recent poverty experiences.