Financial Behaviour of Romanian Guaranteed Minimum Income Beneficiaries
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore the financial behaviour of guaranteed minimum income beneficiaries in Romania, based on their responses in a survey with national representativity for this target group. The main themes of analysis are: perception of their financial situation and satisfaction with the standard of living, perceived financially induced limitations, as well as financial behavior, considering income sources, savings and debt. The results are consistent with the reviewed literature on savings and debt under the poverty context: most respondents don’t have access to mainstream credit and they financially depend on their social network of family and friends in times of need. Yet, in spite of the financial support of their social networks and of affirmed temperance in spending habits, they are faced with health endangering financial limitations - through lack of food or necessary medical treatments.
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