Discontinuity and Continuity in Addressing Child Poverty

In the Light of Zsuzsa Ferge’s Legacy

Abstract

The study explores the changes in child poverty policy in Hungary from the early 2000s to the present day. It examines the extent to which the strategic vision of the National Programme Against Child Poverty (GYENP), developed under the professional leadership of Zsuzsa Ferge, was implemented, and how much continuity can be identified between the original plans and the measures eventually put into practice. The original concepts are presented through an analysis of the GYENP and the “Make Things Better for Our Children!” National Strategy documents, while the actual policy measures are reconstructed based on government party speeches during a parliamentary session reviewing the implementation of the Strategy. The GYENP aimed to tackle structural poverty, improve children’s opportunities, and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Although the National Strategy adopted in 2007 enjoyed strong political consensus, it faced obstacles from the outset due to funding shortages and weak governmental commitment. Following the change of government in 2010, public policy underwent significant transformation: the original approach based on children’s rights and universal benefits was replaced by the ideology of a work-based society and selective pronatalism, which also shaped child poverty interventions. In addition, pragmatic considerations influenced the concrete public policy measures. The focus of policy shifted toward the stable middle class, while support for those living in deep poverty remained project-based and relied mainly on EU funding. Based on the analysis of parliamentary discourse and the Child Opportunity Program, the study concludes that elements of Ferge’s legacy have survived—especially at the local level—but have largely receded from national policy. The study highlights that addressing child poverty remains a major challenge, requiring genuine political commitment and a policy framework that prioritizes equality and children's rights.