The Myth of Asset-Based Welfare: Housing as a Driver of Social Exclusion in the European Union
Keywords:
Welfare, Inequality, Social Exclusion, Housing Systems, European UnionAbstract
This article aims to understand the extent and manner in which housing influences social exclusion levels within the European Union. Through a multivariate analysis, using data from the EU-SILC, the impact of key variables such as tenure and overcrowding on the AROPE indicator is explored. The results demonstrate a significant association between housing and social exclusion. Countries with more market-oriented housing systems tend to exhibit higher levels of social exclusion compared to those with more redistributive systems. These findings challenge the effectiveness of housing policies tied to an asset-based welfare approach in reducing inequality. Furthermore, they highlight the need to strengthen the measurement of housing in analyses of social exclusion to develop more accurate diagnoses.
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