Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v13i3.410
Objective and Subjective Poverty in Croatia
Zoran Šućur
; Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
The purpose of this paper was to determine the distribution of poverty, the structure of the poor, at-risk groups and living conditions of the poor in Croatia. In the beginning of 2004, the Croatian Caritas and the Centre for the Promotion of Social Teaching of the Church conducted a research on poverty in Croatia. The sample included 1216 households from the territory of entire Croatia. According to the objective poverty line (60 percent median of equivalent income), 27 percent of households lived in poverty in Croatia in 2004. The subjective poverty rates differ considerably, depending on the manner of measurement, and they range from 15 to 70 percent. Some inconsistency is present, both among the subjective poverty indicators and among the objective and subjective poverty indicators. Subjective perceptions of a social situation are more firmly connected with the imitation patterns of referential groups than with real financial possibilities. Households headed by persons with the primary school level of education or less than that, by pensioners and unemployed or inactive persons are faced with an above-average risk of poverty. In general, the households in which elderly persons live without other age groups, as well as the households with one adult person with dependent children are faced with an above-average risk of poverty. Poor persons have a higher level of deprivation than the total population according to most indicators. They also have more health related problems and slimmer chances to improve their financial situation. The income structure analysis shows that salaries are the most important source of income for poor persons and for the total population. However, poor persons realise their income on the market much more rarely, relying more on the state transfers than the citizens in general. Certain poverty alleviation measures are suggested in the end.
Keywords
objective poverty; subjective poverty; poverty profile; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
30293
URI
Publication date:
4.12.2006.
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