Child Poverty, Deprivation and Intra-Household Inequality during the Economic Recession

Abstract

Poverty is usually measured at the household level; however, there is growing evidence that households do not share their resources equally. Using data from the material deprivation module in the 2014 Living Conditions Survey this article provides new insight on intra-household inequality in contexts of recession. Households strive to protect children from poverty but are not always able to do so. The combination of adult and child-specific deprivation measures permits the identification of a subset of particularly vulnerable households that are often deprived of basic needs. Additionally, a substantial minority of children do not have their social, leisure and extended educational needs covered. The article argues for more ambitious policy interventions to protect households with children, particularly in times of recession.