Low incomes transferred to the next generation in families with non-western background

People who grew up in low-income families – in particular people with a non-western background –often have low incomes themselves.

Native Dutch and people with non-western background by income category, 2005* 

Native Dutch and people with non-western background by income category, 2005*

People with non-western background less prosperous

People with a non-western background usually live on lower incomes than native Dutch. If age differences are taken into account, one quarter of native Dutch are in the lowest income category , as against nearly half of people with a non-western background. This is mainly due to the fact that the average level of educational attainment of people with a non-western background lags behind and they more often depend on  social security.

Incomes of persons whose parents are in the lowest income bracket, 2005* 

Incomes of persons whose parents are in the lowest income bracket, 2005*

People with non-western background occupy low position on the income ladder

The level of income of people with a non-western background is low relative to native Dutch people and they also rarely have higher incomes than their parents. The risk for children from low-income families with a non-western background to end up in the same income category as their parents is 47 percent, as opposed to 32 percent for children from native Dutch families.

Income category of persons whose parents are in the highest income bracket, 2005*

Income category of persons whose parents are in the highest income bracket, 2005*

Native Dutch more often retain high-income position

The chance of children from families with a non-western background in the highest income bracket to retain that position is 30 percent , as against 35 percent for children from native Dutch high-income families.

Marion van den Brakel and Linda Moonen