Social exclusion: it is considered as a process whereby certain individuals are pushed to the edge of society and prevented from participating fully in social life by virtue of their poverty, or lack of basic competencies and lifelong learning opportunities, or as a result of discrimination. This process withdraws them from job, income and education opportunities as well as from the social and community activities. They have little access to power and decision-making bodies and thus, they feel powerless and unable to take control over the decisions that affect their daily life. (in Joint Report on Social Inclusion, COM 2003, 773 Final).
Social inclusion: it is a process which ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion have access to the resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live. Thus, social inclusion ensures that they have greater participation in the decision making process which affects their lives and better access to their fundamental rights. (in Joint Report on Social Inclusion, COM 2003, 773 Final).
Poverty: people are said to be living in poverty if their income and resources are so inadequate as to preclude them from having a standard of living considered acceptable in the society in which they live. Because of their poverty they may experience multiple disadvantage through unemployment, low income, poor housing, inadequate health care and barriers to lifelong learning, culture, sport and recreation. They are excluded and marginalised from participating in activities (economic, social and cultural) that are the norm for other people and their access to fundamental rights may be restricted. (in Joint Report on Social Inclusion, COM 2003, 773 Final).
Inequality of Income Distribution: it is the difference between the average income of 20% of the population with the highest income and 20% of the population with the lowest income. (Source: “ABC da Inclusão”, in http://www.fngis.org/index.php?jump=nocoes_conceitos)
Absolute Poverty: it corresponds to the needs for maintaining physical efficiency, i.e. how to ensure subsistence considering the sufficiency/insufficiency of resources available. It is about basic resources and needs. This kind of poverty is usually associated with poverty in the underdeveloped countries (like some African countries, for example, where problems such as hunger, the access to drinking water, etc. still exist). Source: “ABC da Inclusão”, in http://www.fngis.org/index.php?jump=nocoes_conceitos)
Relative Poverty: refers to individuals who are excluded from full participation in society due to lack of resources which withdraws them from the minimum acceptable standard and way of living of the country where they live. This kind of poverty is the one that is measured in the developed countries, since it is related to the access to goods and services necessary for a dignified life (it refers to the fundamental human rights: housing, health, education, etc.) (Source: “ABC da Inclusão”, in http://www.fngis.org/index.php?jump=nocoes_conceitos)
Subjective Poverty: perceptions/opinions from the individuals in situation of poverty and from the whole society about poverty and those who are considered poor. Thus, poor people are those who are perceived/seen in this way by others, i.e. it is a kind of poverty that comes from people’s representations and, therefore, it is a complementary element of the poverty study. (Source: “ABC da Inclusão”, in http://www.fngis.org/index.php?jump=nocoes_conceitos)
Poverty Risk: share of persons (aged 0+years) with an equivalised disposable income (after social transfers) below the risk-of-poverty threshold (60% of the equivalised median income). (Source: EU-SILC)
Child Poverty Risk: share of children (aged 0-15 years) with an equivalised disposable income (after social transfers) below the risk-of-poverty threshold (60% of the equivalised median income). (Source: EU-SILC)
Working Age Adults Poverty Risk: share of working age adults (aged 16-64 years) with an equivalised disposable income (after social transfers) below the risk-of-poverty threshold (60% of the equivalised median income). (Source: EU-SILC)
Elderly People Poverty Risk: share of elderly people (aged 65+years) with an equivalised disposable income (after social transfers) below the risk-of-poverty threshold (60% of the equivalised median income). (Source: EU-SILC)
Persistent Poverty Risk: share of persons (aged 0+years) with an equivalised disposable income (after social transfers) below the risk-of poverty threshold (60% of the equivalised median income), in the current calendar year and at least two of the three previous years. (Source: EU-SILC)
Long-term Unemployment Rate: the total long-term unemployed population (12 months or more) expressed as a percentage of the total active population. (Source: EU-SILC)
At-risk-of-poverty Rate: share of the population with an income below 60% of the national median income. (Source: “ABC da Inclusão”, in http://www.fngis.org/index.php?jump=nocoes_conceitos)
