ifo Dresden berichtet 06/2018

Regional Poverty: The Perspective Is What Matters

In 2015, an average of 15.8% of the population in Germany was at risk of poverty. But not all regions are affected to the same extent. When identifying particularly vulnerable regions, it is crucial whether only the income level or also regional price differences are taken into account. In addition, the choice of scale is also important: a strong East-West divide with a higher risk of poverty in East Germany arises when the poverty line is oriented towards national income. If, on the other hand, a regional point of reference is used, the East performs much better than the West. These results should also be given greater consideration in the current discussion on the "equivalence of living conditions".

Ragnitz, Joachim and Förtsch, Mona