Leaving home and poverty before and after the economic crisis in southern European Countries

This paper analyses the link between the poverty status of young people who leave home and the economic status of their family of origin before and after the onset of economic crisis. The sample is drawn from European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. We have selected Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal between 2004 and 2010. We have used a sample selection model for taking in account of potential systematic differences of those who leave home. Estimates suggest that young people delay leaving home because it may increase their chances of being poor: young people who have left home are more likely to be poor if their family of origin is poor.