It is now one year after European leaders proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights, which focuses on equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; and social protection and inclusion. To mark this anniversary, this news item looks at one of the key indicators for social protection and inclusion – the extent to which social transfers, such as state unemployment and housing benefits, reduce the number of people at risk of poverty.

It is estimated that in 2017 social transfers resulted in a reduction of almost one third (32.4 %) in the number of people classified as "at risk of poverty" within the European Union (EU). Apart from 2013, this figure declined in each year since 2010, when it was 36.8 %. Pensions are not considered as social transfers in these calculations.

The extent to which social transfers reduce the number of people at risk of poverty varies across EU Member States. In 2017 there were two Member States where the number of people at risk of poverty was more than halved as a result of social transfers: Finland (a 57 % reduction) and Denmark (51 %). In nine Member States the reduction was below 25 %, and of these the smallest reductions were in Greece (16 %) and Romania (17 %).

The data source is here.

Note:

The reduction in percentage of the at-risk-of poverty rate due to social transfers is calculated by comparing the at-risk-of poverty rates before social transfers with those after transfers. Pensions are not considered as social transfers in these calculations. Data for 2017 are not yet available from Ireland and the United Kingdom.

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