Specific inflation in parenting exceeds general inflation by 35.5%, severely affecting thousands of Basque families. Save the Children proposes to extend universal assistance until the age of 17 and design public policies that ensure its effectiveness in the face of price increases.
Please note | EITB MEDIUM
The average monthly cost of raising a son or daughter in the Basque Country has reached 866 euros in 2024, representing a 13% increase compared to 2022, according to a report by Save the Children. This increase is mainly due to increase in the costs of housing (21%) and food (25%)that have become greater challenges for households with minorsespecially for the most vulnerable.
The report highlights that more than 29,000 Basque households cannot afford these expenses, even if they spend all their income on parenting. Furthermore, 42% of families in the Basque Country (about 90,000) spend more than half of their income on this purpose, endangering the well-being of children.
According to Irati Álvarez, head of political advocacy for Save the Children in the Basque Country, “More than half of families in the Basque Country do not have sufficient income to cover the costs of raising children or are struggling to do so.”
Families with minors are most affected by poverty
The risk of poverty and social exclusion reaches 18% of families with children in the Basque Country, a figure that doubles in the case of single-parent families, to 36%. Furthermore, 10.2% of children under the age of 14 live in maintenance poverty, that is, without sufficient income to meet their basic needs.
In a context where other groups have experienced improvements, households with children are still the most punished by price developments. According to Save the Children, education-specific inflation, which affects essential goods and services such as housing and food, is 35.5% higher than general inflation.
The costs of parenthood by age
The report details how expenses vary depending on the age of the minor. From 0 to 3 years, the monthly costs are 674 euros, aimed at mediation, housing and food. From 7 to 12 years, expenses reach their maximum at 911 euros, while between 13 and 17 years they increase to 925 euros due to the increase in spending on technology and leisure.
Call to strengthen government policy
Save the Children is calling for universal support for parenthood in the Basque Country, currently limited to children under 3, up to 17 years. The organization emphasizes the importance of updating benefits, taking into account the specific educational inflation, and of designing a price index that guarantees the adequacy of these resources in any economic context.
“It is crucial that public policies prioritize children and their well-being, and ensure that families can cope with the rising costs of parenting,” Álvarez concluded.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
