Appauvrissement

Appauvrissement is a French term that describes the process by which wealth, income, assets, or living standards decline for individuals, households, or communities. It encompasses both absolute losses that threaten basic needs and relative declines that strain social or economic standing within a society. In economic and social policy, the concept highlights how exposure to shocks, cumulative disadvantages, and ineffective institutions can erode well-being over time.

Causes and mechanisms include unemployment or underemployment, wage stagnation, inflation eroding purchasing power, rising debt, asset price declines, health shocks, caregiving burdens, natural disasters, conflict, and policy choices that reduce social protections. Structural factors such as weak institutions, unequal access to capital, and globalization can contribute to long‑run appauvrissement.

Types and measurement: Absolute appauvrissement refers to falling below a fixed threshold of basic needs, while relative appauvrissement is defined against a society's median standard of living. Measurements rely on income or expenditure data, asset holdings, poverty lines, multidimensional poverty indices, and longitudinal data showing persistent or repeated losses.

Impacts and policy: Appauvrissement reduces consumption, nutrition, health, education outcomes, and social inclusion, with potential intergenerational effects. Policy responses include social protection (cash transfers, pensions), unemployment insurance, minimum wages, access to credit, public services, tax and debt relief, and supportive macroeconomic management. Effective strategies emphasize resilience, inclusive growth, and measures to prevent or mitigate shocks and to rebuild assets.