Poverty-related problems, survey on living conditions

The indicators are mostly based on information reported in the interview. In cases where the information is based on administrative registers this is stated explicitly.

Material deprivation:

Cannot afford to keep the home adequately warm: Lives in a household that cannot afford to keep the dwelling adequately warm. Before 2021 this question was not asked to households that found it easy or relatively easy to make ends meet. This group was categorised as being able to keep the home adequately warm. Starting in 2021 the question was given to all respondents.

Cannot afford meat or fish every other day: Lives in a household that cannot afford to eat meat, fish or varied and healthy vegetarian dishes every second day. Before 2021 this question was not asked to households that found it easy or relatively easy to make ends meet. This group was categorised as being able to afford meat or fish every other day. Starting in 2021 the question was given to all respondents.

Cannot afford dental care: Has been in need of dental care within the past 12 months without being able to afford it.

Cannot afford to replace worn-out furniture: Lives in a household that cannot afford to replace worn-out furniture when needed. Before 2021 this question was not asked to households that found it easy or relatively easy to make ends meet. This group was categorised as being able to replace worn out furniture. Starting in 2021 the question was given to all respondents.

Cannot afford internet access: Including internet via mobile phone.

Cannot afford to replace worn-out clothes: Cannot afford to replace worn-out clothes when needed.

Cannot afford a car: Lives in a household that does not have a car for private use, for economic reasons.

Cannot afford at least one material good: Not able to afford at least one of the following seven items: (i) keeping the home adequately warm, (ii) eat meat or fish every other day, (iii) dental care, (iv) replace worn-out furniture, (v) internet access, (vi) replace worn-out clothes or (vii) a car for private use.

Tenant: Belong to a household that does not own their dwelling.

Social deprivation:

Cannot afford one-week annual holiday: Lives in a household that cannot afford to go on a one-week holiday outside the home every year. Holidays outside the home include stays in a cabin, a holiday home or visiting friends or family. Before 2021 this question was not asked to households that found it easy or relatively easy to makes ends meet. This group was categorised as being able to afford a holiday. Starting in 2021 the question was given to all respondents.

Cannot afford to spend small amount of money for own pleasure once a week: Cannot afford to spend some money for your own pleasure weekly without consulting another member of the household. This might include buying a magazine, a small gift, getting something to eat etc.

Cannot afford to participate in regular leisure activities: This might include going to the cinema, a concert etc., exercise or participating in organisational work.

Cannot afford to eat or drink out at least once a month: Cannot afford to go out to eat or drink with friends or family at least once a month. It does not have to be more than having a cup of coffee.

Cannot afford at least one social good: not able to afford at least one of these four social goods: (i) a yearly holiday, (ii) spend some money on yourself every week, (iii) participate in leisure activities or (iv) eat or drink out every month.

Financial difficulties:

Difficult or very difficult to make ends meet: Experience it to be difficult or very difficult to "make ends meet" based on the income of all household members.

Cannot afford an unexpected expense: Lives in a household that cannot afford an unexpected expense of a specific size this month without taking up a loan, selling belongings or getting help from others.

From 2019 and onwards the threshold value for an unexpected expense is calculated as a ratio of the national at-risk-of-poverty threshold (EU60) (60 percent of the median income/12). Threshold value for an unexpected expense:

• 2022: 20 000 NOK
• 2021: 19 000 NOK
• 2019-2020: 18 000 NOK
• 2018: 15 000 NOK
• 2005-2017: 10 000 NOK

High housing cost burden: Lives in a household where housing expenses constitute at least 25 per cent of the total income after taxes of the entire household. Housing expenses only include rent and housing mortgage payments. Income information is collected from the income register.

Housing costs are a heavy financial burden: Experience the housing costs as very burdensome for the household's economy. Housing costs include mortgage repayments, housing rent, electricity, local government fees and maintenance. Starting in 2020 this question is only asked every three years (2020, 2023, 2026...).

Problems paying housing costs: Belongs to a household that has been unable to pay either rent, mortgage payments, electricity or local government fees within the past 12 months.

Problems paying mortgage: Belongs to a household that has been unable to pay housing mortgage payments within the past 12 months.

Problems paying credit card debt or hire purchases: Belongs to a household that has been unable to pay credit card bills or hire purchase repayments within the past 12 months. New indicator in 2021.

Problems paying other loans: Belongs to a household that has been unable to pay other loans than housing loans, credit card bills or hire purchase repayments within the past 12 months. This might include student loans, car loans, loans from other private individuals or consumer loans. It was not specified that credit card bills should be excluded before 2021.

Credit card debts or consumer loans are a financial burden: Expenses to credit card debt, hire purchases and other loans. Mortgages taken to buy the main dwelling are excluded. New indicator in 2021.

At least one financial difficulty: Has been unable to pay rent, housing mortgages, other loans, electricity bills or local government fees within the past 12 months. Starting in 2021 it was explicitly stated that inability to pay credit card debts should be included.

Household income decreased the past 12 months: Experiences that the household's income has decreased in the past year. This is self-reported.

Expects household income to decrease next 12 months: This is self-reported.

Medical treatment is a financial burden: Expenses for medical treatments has been very or somewhat burdensome for the household's finances in the past 12 months. This was collected in 2017 and will be collected every three years, starting in 2022.

Dental treatment is a financial burden: Expenses for dental treatments has been very or somewhat burdensome for the household's finances in the past 12 months. This was collected in 2017 and will be collected every three years, starting in 2022.

Medicines are a financial burden: Expenses for medicines has been very or somewhat burdensome for the household's finances in the past 12 months. This was collected in 2017 and will be collected every three years, starting in 2022.

Age

Persons are grouped by age at the beginning of the year for the completion of the main part of the interview.

Centrality

Centrality is a measure of how far a municipality is from service functions and major employers. The standard for centrality is used. It places the municipalities in a category from 1 (most central) to 6 (least central). A complete list of where each municipality is placed can be found here: https://www.ssb.no/en/klass/klassifikasjoner/128/korrespondanser/619

County

On January 1^st, 2020, the Norwegian counties were changed as follows:

• Viken
• Oslo
• Innlandet
• Vestfold and Telemark
• Agder
• Rogaland
• Vestland
• Møre and Romsdal
• Trøndelag
• Nordland
• Troms and Finnmark

Family cycle phase

Persons are grouped by which phase of the family cycle they belong to, and this is based on the person’s age, marital status (single/in couple) and whether the person has children, and the youngest child’s age. The concept single persons do not necessarily refer to persons living alone in the household, but rather persons not living in a relationship (they can still live with others, e.g. their parents or their children). Couples includes both married and unmarried couples. The groups with children consist of persons living with their own child(ren) (including stepchildren and adopted children) aged 0-19 years in the household.

Education

The respondents highest completed education level. Starting in 2021 we have asked the respondents with missing information in the administrative registers what their education level is. They were previously cathegorised as having an eduction "Below upper secondary level".

• Below upper secondary level
• Upper secondary level
• Higher education, undergraduate degree
• Higher education, graduate degree or higher

Economic status

This variable covers the person's own perception of the main activity on the date of the interview. Before 2021 the group "Other" included people on work assessment allowance.

• Working
• Unemployed
• In retirement
• Disabled or unable to work
• Student or pupil (including compulsory military service)
• Other (including fulfilling domestic task and care responsibilities)

Immigrant background

Persons in immigration category B are grouped as immigrants from either immigrants from the EU/EEA etc. or immigrants from Africa, Asia etc. based on their country background. Immigration category B consists of persons born abroad with two foreign born parents and four foreign born grandparents.

• Immigrants from EU/EEA etc. (includes EU/EEA, Switzerland, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand).
• Immigrants from Africa, Asia etc. (includes Asia, Africa, Latin-America, Oceania outside of Australia and New Zealand and Europe outside of EU/EEA).

Income group

Low income, EU: Belong to a household where after-tax income per consumption unit is below 60 per cent of the median income in the population.

After-tax income per consumption unit (equivalent income) is the household after-tax income "corrected" for differences in household size and household composition. When comparing the level of income and living standards for households of varying size, income is often adjusted with the help of equivalence scales or consumption units. An equivalence scale, for instance, provides an indication of how much income a household of four must have in order to achieve the same standard of living as a single person.

EU-equivalence scale: This is the ‘OECD-modified equivalence scale’ which assigns a value of 1 to the household head, of 0.5 to each additional adult member and of 0.3 to each child under the age of 17.

Median income is the exact income amount that splits a distribution in two equally sized groups, when income is sorted ascending (or descending). The number of persons with income over the median income will be the same as the number of persons with income under the median income.

Income quartiles: Population after-tax income per consumption unit sorted by income quartile.

Recipients of disability benefit: Receives disability pension from the social security system.

Recipient of social assistance: Receivers of social assistance from the social security system.

Recipients of work assessment allowance: Receivers of work assessment allowance from the social security system.

Low income households with children: Households with children aged 0-19 years where the equivalent after-tax income (EU-scale) is in the lowest quartile.

Elderly people with low incomes living alone: Persons aged 67 years and older living alone where the equivalent after-tax income (EU-scale) is in the lowest quartile.