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An Index of Child Well-Being in Europe

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Abstract

This is a comparison of child well-being in the 27 countries of the European Union and Norway and Iceland. It is based on 43 indicators forming 19 components derived from administrative and survey data around 2006. It covers seven domains: health, subjective well-being, personal relationships, material resources, education, behaviour and risks, housing and the environment. Comparisons are made of countries performance on each of the domains and components. Overall child well-being is highest in the Netherlands which is also the only country to perform in the top third of countries across all domains. Child well-being is worst in the former Eastern bloc countries with the exception of Slovenia. Lithuania performs in the bottom third on all domains. The United Kingdom does notably badly given its level of national wealth. The index is subjected to sensitivity analysis and analysis is undertaken to explain variations in child well-being. We find that there are positive associations between child well-being and spending on family benefits and services and GDP per capita, a negative association with inequality and no association with the prevalence of ‘broken’ families.

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Notes

  1. Here and elsewhere HBSC data is aggregated using published results for 11, 13 and 15 year olds and girls and boys separately. In order to produce a single national aggregate figure, the results are weighted by sample numbers for age and gender. Data for the UK is GB only. Samples for England, Scotland and Wales are weighted by the child population figures. Belgian data is an aggregate of Flemish and French results weighted for child population figures.

  2. In the previous EU25 index we also had three indicators from PISA in this component—feeling lonely, feeling like an outsider (left out of things) and feeling awkward and out of place. However the questions were regrettably dropped from PISA 2006.

  3. An enforced lack of consumer durables refers to people who cannot afford to have a washing machine, Colour TV, Telephone a personal computer or a personal car (a similar indicator is used by European Commission, 2008: 51—we include a personal computer). The indicator is one or more of these items missing. Households with children are households with any number of residents aged 0–17.

  4. Economic strain refers to households who could not afford to: face unexpected expenses, one weeks annual holiday away from home, to pay for arrears (mortgage or rent, utility bills or hire purchase instalments), a meal with meat or chicken, fish every second day, to keep their home adequately warm (European Commission, 2008: 51). The indicator is missing two or more of these items. Households with children are households with any number of residents aged 0–17.

  5. The EU publishes estimates but we have no reason to believe that they are comparable being based on consumption data.

  6. NEET is of course partly a function of post 15 staying on rates but, because participation also includes pre primary enrolment rates and NEET includes unemployment, we have treated them as separate components.

  7. One or more of leaking roof, damp walls/floors/foundations, or rot in the window frames. Accommodation too dark, no bath or shower, no indoor flushing toilet for sole use of the household (European Commission, 2008: 51). Households with children are households with any number of residents aged 0–17

  8. Persistent poverty has not been included in the framework because of a lack of trend data following the introduction of the new Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU SILC).

  9. For a copy of the excel file email jrb1@york.ac.uk

  10. The changes in group membership at the overall child well-being level are explained by the exclusion of four countries, not by any substantial change in ranks.

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Correspondence to Jonathan Bradshaw.

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The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors alone, and not of the OECD or any of its Member countries.

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Bradshaw, J., Richardson, D. An Index of Child Well-Being in Europe. Child Ind Res 2, 319–351 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-009-9037-7

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