Crowding out, crowding in or just a matter of transformation? Informal financial support in Portugal and Sweden

Abstract

This investigation examines the role of informal financial support among university students in two different welfare states, Portugal and Sweden. Using data from a questionnaire (N = 525), students’ experiences of receiving loans and gifts, and differences in norms and attitudes towards informal financial support, are explored. The data reveal that the Swedish students receive more financial support in terms of monetary loans and gifts from persons in their social network, while for Portuguese students support from their parents to a higher degree is embedded in patterns of living conditions. Furthermore, the interaction processes of exchange of support, for both groups is characterised by reflexivity and complexity, not only framed by resource conditions, but also by relational and situational factors. The results are discussed in the theoretical framework of crowding out/crowding in theories.

Studien undersöker betydelsen av informellt ekonomiskt och materiellt stöd från närstående bland universitetsstudenter i Portugal och Sverige. Med hjälp av data från en enkät (N = 525) analyseras studenternas erfarenheter av lån och gåvor och skillnader i normer och attityder till informellt ekonomiskt stöd. Resultaten visar att de svenska studenterna får mer ekonomiskt stöd från personer i det sociala nätverket, medan de portugisiska studenternas stöd från sina föräldrar i hög grad är inbäddade i rådande levnadsmönster där studenter ofta bor kvar i föräldrahemmet under studieåren. Vidare visar resultaten att stödutbytet för båda grupperna präglas av reflexivitet och komplexitet vilket hänför sig till såväl tillgängliga resurser som relationella och situationella faktorer. Resultaten diskuteras i en teoretisk kontext av crowding out och crowding in teorier, dvs. hur teorier om hur offentliga stödsystem tränger undan alternativt möjliggör informellt stöd.

Esta pesquisa estuda o papel do apoio financeiro informal existente entre estudantes universitários de Portugal e Suécia, países com diferentes sistemas de estado providência. Tendo por base os dados de um inquérito por questionário (N = 525), analisou-se a experiência dos estudantes quanto a receberem empréstimos e ofertas em dinheiro, e as diferenças quanto a normas e atitudes sobre apoio financeiro informal. Os resultados revelam que os estudantes suecos recebem mais apoio financeiro de pessoas da sua rede social na forma de empréstimo e ofertas, enquanto os estudantes portugueses se inscrevem principalmente num padrão em que os pais são em grande parte o suporte às suas condições de vida. Além disso, os processos de interacção e troca de apoios, nos inquiridos dos dois países caracterizam-se pela reflexividade e complexidade, sendo não apenas decorrentes dos recursos materiais disponíveis mas também de factores relacionais e situacionais. Os resultados são discutidos no quadro das teorias do crowding out/crowding in.

Keywords:

• Financial Support
• Social Network
• Crowding Out
• Portugal
• Sweden

Sökord:

• Finansiellt Stöd
• Sociala Nätverk
• Crowding Out
• Portugal
• Sverige

Palavras-chave:

• Apolo Financeiro
• Redes Sociais
• Crowding Out
• Portugal
• Suécia

Notes

1. Data from the European Social Survey (2008) show that there are a major proportion of Swedish students living (now or before) in couple (10.6%), while only 4.2% of the Portuguese students have the same condition. These results meet those from the survey on which this article is based, done near students from Portugal and Sweden. More than the Portuguese, a larger amount of the Swedish students has already experienced living as a couple or being a parent.