Youth Vulnerability in Europe during the Economic Crisis

Elena Cottini, Università Bocconi

The current economic crisis has had a major adverse impact on economic performance in Europe causing many countries to enter into recession. Besides falling asset prices, there have been substantial increases in unemployment and young people have suffered the most form this situation. Thus, it is expected that the achievement of economic and residential independence is being postponed, or interrupted while the risk of entering poverty increases. Using EUSILC data for the period 2005-2010 we rank European countries on the basis of the percentage changes in poverty and financial deprivation by household composition and identify the most vulnerable groups among young people. We investigate how different household types reacted across space and time to the economic crisis with a focus on the role played by welfare state provisions. For example we show that young single parents with dependent children represent the category which the economic crisis affects most.