Framing child poverty in Finland as a "wicked problem"

Christopher J. Smith, Petri Virtanen, Aapo Hiilamo, Tiina Ristikari

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Abstract

Why is Finland failing to adequately address the issue of child poverty? Approximately 150,000 children are currently "at risk of poverty. " As data on at-risk-of-poverty (AROP) and financial assistance over a 30-year period illustrates, numbers, in percentage terms, remain fairly constant despite continuing "political" recognition of the problem. Child poverty thus seemingly presents as a classic "wicked problem" particularly in the emerging social space that constitutes UN Sustainable Development Goal implementation. In line with "wickedness theory, " the chapter discusses the various technical and value-based possibilities for persistent policy failure around child poverty which sees increasing polarization between the majority and some increasingly marginalized social groups such as single parent and immigrant families. While definitive explanations for the persistence of child poverty in a Nordic welfare state such as Finland remain elusive, the Finnish experience suggests that interorganizational conflicts, siloed-thinking, and outdated implementation in relation to the benefits system represent key hindrances to better policymaking and thus to more equitable policy outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPolicy Capacity, Design and the Sustainable Development Goals
Subtitle of host publicationWicked Problems in Uncertain Environments
EditorsAndrea Lippi, Theodore N. Tsekos
PublisherEmerald
Pages27-48
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9781804556863
ISBN (Print)9781804556870
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2024
Publication typeA3 Book chapter

Keywords

  • Child poverty
  • Finland
  • Poverty measurement
  • Sustainable

Publication forum classification

  • Publication forum level 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

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