DIVERSIFICATION OF INCOME AND ASSETS AMONG THE BENEFICIRIES OF THE 500 + PROGRAM

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DIVERSIFICATION OF INCOME AND ASSETS AMONG THE BENEFICIRIES OF THE 500 + PROGRAM – SOCIAL POLICY IN POLAND

Journal Title: Knowledge International Journal - Year 2018, Vol 26, Issue 1

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show how the financial situation of Polish households changed following the introduction of “Family 500+” program. The study presents results of household surveys in Poland regarding selected conditions for the households self-esteem of theirs financial situation and considerations on Polish social policy after the introduction of the 500+ program. The political and economic changes in recent decades have significantly changed the situation of all sectors of the economy, including the household sector. Essential changes in household incomes occurred in the early years of transformation (1990-1992), which is why they are also referred to as the "Revolution in Revenue". They consisted of a general income decline in the real dimension and transformations of their structure according to sources of acquisition. There is a growing share of groups of households particularly exposed to poverty and social exclusion. There are differences in the standard of living due to the place of residence resulting from the diversity of the spatial level of economic development. In April 2016, the very large and expensive social program Family 500+ was launched in Poland. Its beneficiaries were to be, in particular, large families, who were in the most difficult financial situation. The benefits were provided in the amount of PLN 500 for the second and subsequent child in the household. In 2017, as in the previous year, there was a marked improvement in the financial situation of households in Poland. Households achieved higher incomes and incur higher expenses. The educational benefit (500+) was introduced by the State Aid Act in raising children. Its construction can be presented in comparison with family allowances. It has been assumed that the standard of living of the household, i.e. its economic situation, determines primarily the level of consumer spending, significantly dependent on the income received. This in turn is related to the degree of satisfying the needs of the household as a result of the consumption of goods and services and functioning in a specific social, natural and political environment. This assumption is consistent with the views presented in the literature on the subject that income or consumption expenditures can be treated as measures. The main purposes of introducing a social benefit were: increasing the fertility rate, investing in human capital, reducing poverty among the youngest Poles. The methods of statistical analysis were used in the research. There were used data conducted by the Central Statistical Office in Warsaw and Eurostat data and from a representative Polish Household Budget Survey.

Authors and Affiliations

Wioletta Świeboda

Keywords

EP ID EP50055
DOI -
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