HE economy recovery strong after being imprisoned and above all employment growth decreased in the last year risk of poverty and exclusion in the Valencian Community even lower levels than recorded before the pandemic. However, this widespread development Problems continue in a significant number of households. serious financial deficiencies that are aggravated by the end of the month or by the effect of inflation.
This is reflected in the latest Living Conditions Survey prepared annually by the INE and, for example, one-third of autonomy residents do not have the savings to face unforeseen expenses and until 3.4% of the population – equivalent to about 65,000 people in the province of Alicante and about 173,000 people throughout the Communityor you can have a meat or fish dish at least once every two days.
Parallel to what is happening across the country, the figures show that Total percentage of population at risk of poverty or exclusion The so-called Arope indicator – which takes into account various factors in addition to income – fell from 30.6% to 30.6% in 2022. 27.5% in the Valencian Community. a figure that leaves this indicator even for Below what was recorded in 2019, 28.2%, still above what is registered at the national levelthe population at risk of exclusion here is 26%.
Much of this development comes thanks to increase in average income In addition to economic recovery, it is also supported by measures such as increasing the minimum wage or improving pensions. In this way, the population income-based risk of poverty –meaning that household income is below 60% of the household group median- decreased from 25.1% to 22.3%. Of course, it should be clarified in this sense that the study takes into account the income of the year before the survey, in this case 2021.
Likewise, their families low employment density – i.e. members are unemployed or only working very short periods of the year – decline from 11.1% to 9.1% total, as a result of the improvement in the labor market.
It is remarkable, however, that the percentage of the population serious material and social deprivation decreased with much less intensity, from 7.6% to 7.1%, so there is still That’s about 362,000 people throughout the autonomy and 136,000 in the state of Alicante. assuming the same ratio is maintained. So the survey qualifies people who show deficits in at least seven of a 13-indicator list, which includes everything from accumulating delays in paying housing bills to being unable to afford certain foods or owning a car.
As noted by a sociologist and tenured professor in the Department of Applied Economic Analysis at the University of Alicante Carlos Gomez GilThese data show that the recovery implemented by the administrations during the pandemic and the whole social shield improved the general situation, but did not end it. significant pockets of extreme poverty they exist and are much more expensive to reduce. As Gómez Gil recalls, it is a pattern that has already occurred with the end of the previous crisis. “It is therefore important that social policies focus more on these groups,” the sociologist insists.
lack of material
In detail, it is noteworthy that some of the material indicators analyzed, particularly those that are more directly related to the consequences of inflation and the development of prices that reduce the purchasing power of the majority of households, deteriorate. so, until 37% of those consulted on autonomy say that they cannot afford even a one-week vacation. annually, two points more than those who had addressed this problem the previous year.
Similarly, until 34.6% of people from Alicante, Valencia and Castellón say they do not have the capacity to face unforeseen expensess is 2.3 points higher than the previous year. But perhaps the most important indicator, 18.4% 939,000 percent of the respondents are located in the autonomous region and 353,000 in the province of Alicante. keep the house at a suitable temperature. That is, you can not put heating or air conditioning.
Another figure that did not improve, though at least not increased, you can’t eat meat or fish at least every other day, This equates to 3.4% of the population. While the percentage is small, the assessment changes given that it assumes it exists. about 173,000 people in the whole of the autonomy and about 65,000 in Alicante who can’t eat well, according to this survey. The positive side is that in 2020, when quarantine paralyzed activity, half of those who came to enroll were still above the 2.6% recorded before the pandemic.
More difficulty reaching the end of the month
Despite the overall improvement, the Living Conditions Survey shows a small increase in those with livelihoods, accounting for 48.8% of the population, one percentage point higher than the previous year. Specifically, 27.8% of those who said they could barely afford their expenses; those who “forced” it, 12%; Those who agree that they closed the month with “force” are 8.4%. On the other hand, only 2.7% of respondents claimed to have finished the month “too easy”. By communities, Melilla has the highest risk of exclusion with 41% of the total population and Navarra the least with 14.5%.