Increased poverty prevalence noted, even in the southwestern regions
Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany's most prosperous regions, has seen a significant increase in its poverty rate, according to a report by the Paritätischer Welfare Association Stuttgart. The poverty rate in the state now stands at 11.8%, an increase of 160,000 people compared to the previous year, and higher than the national average.
The head of the Paritätischer Welfare Association Baden-Württemberg, Ulf Hartmann, has emphasized that this is a poor showing for a prosperous region. He called on policymakers to take urgent action to address the issue of poverty in the region.
The report did not provide information about the causes of this increase, but it is believed to be driven by systemic economic factors such as insufficient social security benefits, labor market challenges, and the impacts of automation and economic restructuring.
According to an EU convention, someone is considered poor if their household income is below 60% of the previously calculated average income of the total population. The report also highlights that low-income groups such as single parents, young adults, and retirees continue to lose purchasing power in recent years.
The poverty rate in Baden-Württemberg is higher than the poverty rate in other prosperous regions and is a concern for the welfare association, which has demanded better income, expansion of basic security, and a poverty-proof minimum pension. The association has also called for the creation of more affordable housing and support for families with low income.
The report comes as the nationwide poverty rate in Germany has also increased, standing at 15.5%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. Bremen has the highest poverty rate among German states, with 25.9% of people living in poverty.
To address the rising poverty rates, the welfare association has proposed several solutions. These include enhancing social welfare by increasing benefit levels while reducing punitive sanctions, job creation and retraining programs, policy reform for sustainability, and regional investment in sectors such as renewable energy and energy-efficient construction.
In summary, the increase in poverty rate in Baden-Württemberg reflects broader challenges of social security adequacy, labor market changes, and economic transition pressures. Addressing these requires integrated reforms in social protection, economic policy, and sustainable development investments.
The increase in poverty rate in Baden-Württemberg, a prosperous German region, has raised concerns about the adequacy of social security and the impact of economic factors on lifestyle, as the report suggests systemic issues like insufficient benefits, labor market challenges, automation, and economic restructuring as possible causes. To combat this, the Paritätischer Welfare Association has proposed solutions such as enhancing social welfare, creating jobs, implementing policy reform for sustainability, and regional investment in sectors like renewable energy and energy-efficient construction.
