Research findings

This online resource collects together the results of the research carried out by the Income Distribution and Living Conditions network of the Social Situation Observatory. It includes comparative analyses of income inequality, the risk of poverty, material deprivation, the distribution of wealth and non-monetary aspects of well-being across the EU and the factors underlying these. It is based to a large extent on the EU-SILC (Statistics on Income and Living Conditions), specifically on the published microdata, and it extends the periodic studies produced by Eurostat on various issues which can be examined by using the data. It also, however, brings to bear a range of other data sources which can help to increase understanding of the social situation across the EU and related developments, such as the European Labour Force Survey, the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the European Household Budget Survey (EHBS), the Adult Education Survey and PISA (the survey of the academic performance of young people). In addition, it makes use of the EUROMOD microsimulation model of household income to analyse the redistributive effects of the tax-benefit system in different countries.

The focus is on analysis which is of relevance for policy-makers, to give a more detailed and complete insight into the issues concerned and to provide a firmer basis for the policies implemented to improve the social situation and well-being of people across the EU. The contents are updated and extended each year to reflect the most recent data available and to include new analysis undertaken by members of the network. At present, most of the analysis was carried out during 2011, except for a few sections which are based on data sources which are not updated annually (such as the special ad hoc modules of the EU-SILC).