Children inherit
welfare dependency
 The way to the welfare office seems shorter for children of welfare recipients. PHOTO: ERLEND AAS/SCANPIX |
The study by research organization FAFO in Oslo shows that welfare dependency has an alarming tendency to pass from generation to generation.
"Children are pressured into seeking public assistance themselves in order for the family to survive," says Stig Rusten, head of Norway's association for single parents (Aleneforeldreforeningen.) "I don't think the politicians realize how bad the situation is."
Rusten said many of his association's members lack the ability to support their children, and the children are then pressured into getting welfare themselves. "That's how poverty is inherited from generation to generation," he said.
The FAFO report studied families with children aged 10 to 17 in 1994, and then followed up on the children's situation 10 years later. Results showed that the chances of then becoming welfare clients as well were quite high.
The researchers themselves were surprised by the results. "This is in strong contrast to the ideals of equality we've had in post-war Norway, that everyone should have equal opportunity for work and education," FAFO researcher Thomas Lorentzen told newspaper Aftenposten.
He had no conclusions as to why welfare went from generation to generation, but noted that recipients often have major social and health problems along with financial ones.
The researchers at FAFO, which has strong ties to Norway's Labour Party, suggest politicians need to ensure that all children have access to day care centers, after-school programs and higher education that could help break the cycle of poverty.
Christine Engh
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund
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