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Identifying regional poverty types in Slovakia

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Abstract

Even today the poverty is an important negative social phenomenon with evident spatial dimension. Areas with high poverty concentration constitute poverty regions with plenty of common but also different or specific characteristics. Research into the specific poverty features in regions lags behind that of the common characteristics and character of poverty. The aim is to show one of ways to carry out typification of poverty regions (on example of Slovakia). A universal conceptual and methodological frame applicable to any country is presented. Regional poverty types were sorted out by application of the hierarchical agglomerative methods of cluster analysis (Ward’s method) with nine indicators capturing the generally applicable dimensions, which determine poverty and profile of poverty regions. Results confirmed the presumption that the different economic, social, demographic, cultural and other different conditions and population structure in regions may determine the character of poverty. Obtained knowledge points not only to the particular population groups, which require attention but also to the regional poverty types that should be identified for the efficient fight against poverty in these regions.

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Notes

  1. There are four NUTS 2 (Bratislava, West, Central and East Slovakia) and eight NUTS 3 regions in Slovakia, with significant differentiation and heterogeneity. If we abstract from dominant position of Bratislava region, we may say, that in case of other NUTS 3 regions preservation and reduction of regional disparities is evident. There is no doubt about importance of EU cohesion policy and its implementation on NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 levels.

  2. They are mostly works that marginally involved the researched theme but implicitly contain different criteria, factors or indicators of poverty, or they occasionally contain certain classifications.

  3. NUTS 3 regions are the lowest level with direct data on poverty in Slovakia. They are included into EU SILC Slovakia 2005–2017. It is harmonized EU Members statistical inquiry producing regular and quality data about income, poverty and social exclusion. Harmonized methodology is used every year and enables international EU comparisons.

  4. Data needed for spatially more detailed analysis of poverty in Slovakia are missing. Just a very limited part of existing data may be used and only in 10-years Census periodicity.

  5. Total number of analysed regions on the level of NUTS 4 or LAU 1 was 72 districts.

  6. Negative values stand for the difference necessary for the region to reach the national average in the given indicator, while the positive values express share of indicator in particular regions.

  7. Although, the individual KMO measure 0.493 suggested its elimination.

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Acknowledgements

This paper has been produced under the scientific project No. 2/0009/18 funded by the VEGA Grant Agency.

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  1. Institute of Geography of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Štefánikova 49, 841 73, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Anton Michálek & Michala Sládeková Madajová

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  1. Anton Michálek
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Correspondence to Anton Michálek.

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Michálek, A., Madajová, M.S. Identifying regional poverty types in Slovakia. GeoJournal 84, 85–99 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-018-9852-9

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