Nordic knowledge base highlights economic vulnerability in different stages of life
Despite well-developed welfare systems in the Nordic countries, more Nordic citizens live in economic vulnerability today than ten years ago. The growing number of children living in poverty is particularly serious, as is the fact that many pensioners, especially women, are living in economic hardship. In conjunction with the summit of the UN Commission on the Status of Women a new knowledge base is published, focusing on this year’s theme.
Every year, the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) brings together UN member states to set goals for global gender equality and develop measures to promote gender equality. In 2024, the summit takes place from 11 to 22 March, focusing on economic vulnerability and how to tackle it to empower women and girls.
The Nordic countries have worked together for over 40 years to promote gender equality in all areas of society and have important knowledge to contribute on economic vulnerability. On behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Information on Gender, NIKK, has produced a knowledge base that highlights a range of relevant areas.
Women are over-represented
Despite well-developed welfare systems in the Nordic countries, poverty is a growing problem. More Nordic citizens live in economic vulnerability today than ten years ago, and in several of the Nordic countries the gap between rich and poor has increased.
“The growing number of children living in poverty is particularly serious, as is the fact that many pensioners, especially women, are living in economic hardship. In order to more effectively tackle poverty, it is therefore necessary to consider all stages of life, from childhood, through youth and adulthood and into retirement and old age” says Susanna Young Håkansson, analyst at the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research, University of Gothenburg, and the author of the knowledge base.
Women are over-represented amongst those living in relative poverty and are generally at higher risk of poverty than men. With respect to finances, the knowledge base highlights a number of structural factors that favour men over women. There is also a need to look beyond age: how economic vulnerability affects the lives of different groups.
Violence in relation to economic vulnerability
It is also important to highlight the role of violence in relation to economic vulnerability. While far from everyone living in economic vulnerability is exposed to violence, it is present and has led to poverty for many in the most economically vulnerable groups.
“Welfare systems, authorities and employers must take shared responsibility for tackling the consequences of economic violence. Internationally, for example in the UK, there is experience of how this can be done, with social services and other relevant authorities given resources to create and develop support systems to support people who are victims of economic violence” says Susanna Young Håkansson.
The Nordic knowledgebase Economic vulnerability in different stages of life emphasises the importance of taking into account the whole life cycle of people and shows the conditions of different groups. It also addresses economic violence in different forms, the consequences for victims, as well as the need for support structures. The knowledge base is summarised in a number of key messages.
NIKK is a cooperation body under the Nordic Council of Ministers, placed at the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research, University of Gothenburg. NIKK gathers and communicates knowledge about policy and practice, and facts and research in the area of gender equality and equal rights for LGBTI people with a Nordic and cross-sectoral perspective.
