The Nordic region is often highlighted as an international role model for high living conditions, comprehensive universal welfare systems, and strong ideals of equality. This reputation may lead to the assumption that Nordic countries are largely shielded from risks associated with child poverty. However, developments over the past two decades have drawn another picture. A significant proportion of children in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden grow up in families with persistently relatively low income, with the prevalence both considerably varying within and between countries.
What is more, the Nordic Welfare Centre has cooperated with and has been a member of the European Social Network (ESN) for several years now. As a longstanding tradition, the Nordic Welfare Centre hosts the Nordic Day—a pre-conference event, in connection with ESN's annual conference. Each year, the Nordic Day highlights a new theme, guided by our ambition to share Nordic knowledge, foster dialogue, and learn from the experience of other stakeholders across Europe.
This year, the focus is on children growing up in low-income families.
In the Nordic countries, child poverty mainly takes the form of relative poverty, which refers not to the absolute lack of necessities but to situations in which families live on far fewer resources than the majority. This makes everyday life financially tight and limits children’s opportunities to participate in society on equal terms, increasing the risk of stress, unstable living conditions, and social exclusion.
In February, the report Children and youth at risk of poverty – Nordic approaches to social mobility and remaining challenges was launched, describing Nordic trends regarding poverty risks, the measures and instruments used in the Nordic countries, and how children experience growing up under these conditions. The report shows that growing up in persistently low-income families is a social challenge that must be closely monitored.
Additionally, it underlines that single parents, large families, families with a migrant background, and low attachment to the labour market are particularly vulnerable groups in all Nordic countries. Several challenges and knowledge gaps have also been identified and need to be addressed in order to design effective measures. This, for instance, encompasses the need to understand:
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the causal pathways between low income and long-term outcomes;
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the ‘pockets’ of poverty within municipalities;
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the structural impacts of welfare state cutbacks.
About the Nordic Welfare Centre
The Nordic Welfare Centre is an institution within the Nordic Council of Ministers. Our core mission is to serve as a platform for cooperation between the Nordic countries in social affairs and public health. We compile and disseminate knowledge to relevant stakeholders.