Study: More Germans at risk of poverty, fewer escape options

Oct 11, 2011, 15:36 GMT

Berlin - More Germans are at risk of poverty and the poor are finding ever fewer opportunities to improve their financial situation, reported a group of researchers Tuesday.

'Once poor, always poor,' said sociologist Jutta Allmendinger, releasing the report compiled by the Federal Statistics Agency Destatis and a group of social researchers.

It showed that the percentage of the population at risk of poverty had climbed from 15.2 per cent of the population in 2007-08 to 15.5 per cent in 2008-09. That figure has been on the rise since the 1980s.

The definition of those at risk of poverty is a person living on 929 euros (1,266 dollars) a month or less.

It also showed that while 57 per cent of the poor lived in state-subsidized housing in the 1980s, that figure had risen to 65 per cent today.

The study showed that 30 per cent of those at risk of poverty were unable to provide themselves with a proper meal every other day. Additionally, 16 per cent said they were unable to properly heat their apartments, said Roderich Egeler, the president of the statistics agency.

Conversely, it was growing more likely that the affluent would remain affluent. Thirty-eight per cent of rich people managed to retain their wealth in the 1980s, a number that has now risen to 51 per cent.