Paupérisation

Paupérisation is a sociological and economic term describing the process by which a growing portion of a population experiences a sustained decline in income, living standards, and social standing, increasing vulnerability to poverty. It also refers to the erosion of social protections and the narrowing of opportunities that allow individuals to escape deprivation.

Causes include structural changes in the economy such as deindustrialization, globalization, and automation that reduce well-paid, stable jobs; the rise of precarious or informal work; stagnant or eroding real wages; rising housing costs; and cuts or insufficiencies in social protection. Inequality and gaps in education can intensify paupérisation across generations.

Indicators often cited are higher incidence of working poverty, job insecurity, rising debt, housing insecurity, and multidimensional measures of deprivation. The phenomenon can vary by region, with urban areas experiencing precarity tied to labor markets and rural areas facing different constraints.

Scholars debate its causes and scope, attributing it to policy choices, market forces, or demographic trends. Some view paupérisation as a long-run structural dynamic, while others stress the role of welfare systems and public investment in mitigating it.

Policy responses commonly include strengthening social protection, implementing universal or targeted minimum income schemes, expanding affordable housing and healthcare, and promoting stable employment through active labor market policies and education.