Poverty and social exclusion: the reverse of inclusion

Poverty: Following the definition of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, poverty is defined as symptom of lack andof scarcity of resources to meet needs that society regards as basic. It is measured from the following indicators:

1. The poverty risk rate (once social transfers are taken into account),
2. The material deprivation index and,
3. The percentage of people living in households with a very low labour intensity.

Social exclusion: the process of loss of integration or participation of people in society and in the different economic, political and social spheres. It is the lack of resources for an active and effective social participation.

Social exclusion therefore implies difficulties in some or all of these three areas:

1. Economic: employment, income, deprivation
2. Political, citizenship exercise: political rights, education, health, housing
3. Social relations: isolation, anomie.

Inclusion

The European Union framework has defined social inclusion as ‘a process that ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion increase the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life, as well as enjoy living and welfare conditions that they consider normal in the society in which they live’.

It is also possible to find other definitions by organizations working in the field, such as Doctors of the World. For them, social inclusion refers to “social integration, social harmony and social justice, conditions that are contingent upon the implementation and enforcement of measures designed to ensure that all members of a society have an equal opportunity to participate in every facet of its social life (economic, legal, political or cultural as well as others)”.

Active inclusion: Following the European Commission definition, it refers to the search for overcoming strategies focused only on partial aspects of the problem of exclusion and poverty, such as those addressed exclusively to the labour market, or those based only on welfare policies.

According to the Social Inclusion Guidelines from the The Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda (Ministerio de Derechos Sociales y Agenda 2030) , active inclusion seeks to articulate policies combining labour insertion with social support, especially to disadvantaged groups through the maintenance of levels of social protection that allow the development of a dignified life and greater social and economic cohesion.

Strategies, Plans and policies of action

The 2019-2023 National Strategy for the prevention and fight against poverty and social exclusion.

Currently, as mentioned above, besides the broader Youth Strategy 2022-30 (Estrategia Juventud 2022-30), there is one main Action Plan for the social inclusion in the Spanish State:

The 2019-2023 National Strategy for the prevention and fight against poverty and social exclusion (Estrategia Nacional de Prevención y Lucha contra la Pobreza y Exclusión Social) is the frame of reference in terms of operational objectives, measures and axes of action for the inclusion of society as a whole in Spain. Although it is not an exclusive policy document for young people, the First Youth Action Plan (2022-2024) includes specific measures for the youth in terms of employment and education.

In addition, the European Strategy 2023 want to achieve six major ambitions: the European green pact, a Europe adapted to the digital age, an eco-economy at the service of people, a stronger Europe in the world, a promotion of the European way of life and a boost to European democracy.

Statistical Sources and Inclusion Indicators

Statistical sources containing data on inclusion are:

• At European level, Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), of Eurostat.
• At the national level, the Living Conditions Survey, of the Spanish Statistical Office (INE).

The Living Conditions Survey (LCS): a survey conducted annually since 2004 by the Spanish National Statistical Institute. It is the main source of statistical information on inclusion in Spain. Its purpose is to measure and compare income distribution and social exclusion. It is equivalent to the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), of Eurostat.

The main indicator used by these surveys, harmonized at the European level, is the Poverty Risk Rate, better known as AROPE Rate (At Risk of Poverty and/or Exclusion Rate). According to the latest available data (2021), the AROPE Rate among young people aged between 16 and 29 years old in Spain is 34.2% in women and 32.9% in men.

The below table illustrates trends from 2013 up to the point of the latest available data (2021), showing a considerable year-on-year gradual increase and a negative correlation between the risk of poverty by gender. However, as can be seen in 2022, the risk of poverty and/or social exclusion is markedly higher among women. This can be explained by the socio-economic and health crisis in Spain.

Source: “Riesgo de pobreza y/o exclusión social (estrategia Europa 2020) por grupos de edad y periodos”. Indicador AROPE INE, 2022.