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rates of youth poverty? To what extent does each structural factor
contribute to cross-national variations in youth poverty?
Using data on 22 countries from the Luxembourg Income
Study (LIS), this research decomposes the effects of household
composition, the market, and social welfare on youth poverty. As
the economic well-being of young adults is deteriorating, this study
investigates the contributions of household composition, the
market, and social transfers to youth poverty. This study expands
the scope of international studies of poverty by including East
Asian countries, which differ from Western countries in their
poverty patterns, living arrangements, welfare systems, and market
structures.
II. Background
A. Define Young Adults
Studies have placed young adulthood between the ages of 15
and 24 (United Nations), 18 and 24 (LIS), or 18 and 29 (Arnett,
Žukauskien
ė
, & Sugimura
,
2014). Considering the profound
changes in the transition to adulthood, including a prolonged
education period, delayed market employment, and later marriage,
Arnett (2000) coined the term “emerging adulthood” (Arnett et al.,
2014). According to Arnett et al. (2014), the years from 18 to 29
constitute a distinctive demographic, psychological, and subjective
developmental stage. In contrast to children, and to adults in their
30s or older, people aged 18-29 frequently change living
arrangements, educational pursuits, work status, and romantic
relationships. Most young people aged 18-29 do not feel like
adults (Tanner, 2014). Many of the transitions of adulthood, such
as changes in residential, educational, and work arrangements,
carry an inherent risk of poverty (Iacovou, 2009). In many
countries, young adults aged 18-29 are vulnerable to poverty
(Aassve et al., 2013; Ayllón, 2015). Based on the discussion above,
this study defines young adults as individuals aged 18-29.