Children marked for life by poverty, study shows

Living in poverty, even for a short time, has a greater effect on children that had hitherto been thought

A new study carried out by Rune Vammen Lesner, an associate professor at Aarhus University, has established that children aged 13-15 are especially vulnerable to the effects of poverty.

READ ALSO: Poverty on the rise in Denmark

One year of poverty at that age will result in them earning 12 percent less in wages than the average worker as an adult.

Short education
The reason seems to be that children in this situation tend to study for a shorter period and enter the labour market earlier than their better-off peers, reports Dagbladet Information.

Although this area has been studied before, this is the first time that it has been possible to indicate the concrete causes.

“This is the first study I know of that proves that it is the fact that the children have grown up in poverty that leads to them doing badly as adults,” said Jonas Schytz Juul, analyst at the think-tank Arbejderbevægelsens Erhvervsråd.




  • Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    The number of relocations across the Øresund Region is rising. As highlighted by 2023 numbers, Sweden benefits from a growing interest, especially among younger generations.

  • Tunø: An island running out of time

    Tunø: An island running out of time

    The island of Tunø harbors a community of 74 adults and one child. There are no cars and only one connection to the rest of the world. Now, climate change threatens it

  • In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish

  • Here Comes The Sun…

    Here Comes The Sun…

    I escaped from Denmark this winter to the south of France, where I was convinced that the sunshine would inspire me to write this year’s Crazy Christmas comedy show.

  • Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

    Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

    On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark

  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.