Security and Inequality: Evidence from Portugal (Bruno P. Carvalho, Mariana Esteves, Susana Peralta)

Abstract: “This paper analyses human security in Portugal and how it interacts with inequality. We use representative survey data to discuss the individual determinants of several dimensions of human security that go beyond the narrow conception of the absence of physical threats. These individual determinants include a multidimensional perspective, encompassing environmental security and living conditions. Albeit Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, we document that certain groups, such as women, low-income classes, the elderly, and younger people, often feel less safe. However, we show that Portugal fares less well in a broader perspective, as its income, food, housing, and health security are often higher than in many other European Union nations.”

Keywords: Human security, Inequality, Portugal, European Union.

  Security and Inequality: evidence from Portugal

About the authors
Bruno P. Carvalho is visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and Associate Fellow at ECARES (ULB). He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from NOVA SBE and is one of the coordinators of Portugal, Balanço Social, a joint initiative of Fundação La Caixa and Nova SBE. | bpessoa@eco.uc3m.es

Mariana Esteves is Ph.D. candidate at the NOVA SBE and Researcher at the Economics for Policy Knowledge Center and the project Portugal, Balanço Social, a joint initiative of Fundação La Caixa and Nova SBE. | mariana.esteves@novasbe.pt

Susana Peralta is Associate Professor, with Habilitation, at Nova School of Business and conomics and one of the coordinators of Portugal, Balanço Social, a joint initiative of Fundação La Caixa and Nova SBE. | peralta@novasbe.pt