Exploration of poverty and social exclusion of Slovak population via contrast analysis associated with logit models

The aim of the paper is to assess the impact of socio-economic and socio-demographic factors on the risk of poverty or social exclusion. The paper focuses on the analysis of the probability of social exclusion of the Slovak population from 4 perspectives, from being at risk of poverty or social exclusion, at risk of poverty, severely materially deprived, and living in a (quasi-)jobless household. The least-square means analysis and contrast analysis linked to logit models were used to identify risk groups, and to estimate the social exclusion probabilities. Based on the EU-SILC 2020 database, unemployed persons with low education and persons from single-parent and multi-child households had the greatest risk of social exclusion in Slovakia. Under ceteris paribus conditions, the risk decreased with increasing age and improving health status. The riskiest marital status was divorced. Analyses revealed regional disparities from the point of view of all 4 perspectives, with people living in South-Center and Eastern Slovakia and people living in sparsely and moderately populated areas having the greatest risk. Since economic activity status, household type, and educational attainment level showed as the most relevant factors, the article pays special attention to the assessment of the mutual influence of these factors. Although the pattern of the risk of social exclusion of persons broken down by household type and education for the unemployed and employed is similar, the riskiness of the most vulnerable groups of people is more pronounced for employed persons.