INEQUALITY & POVERTY
Perceptions of Inequality in Belgium: Although official statistics indicate a stable income inequality, many people believe it is on the rise. Drawing on data from either the European Social Survey (ESS) or the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), this master's thesis explores the roots of this apparent paradox.
Cumulative Deprivation in Belgium: Using data from EU-SILC, this master's thesis examines how cumulative deprivation has evolved in Belgium. A society experiences greater cumulative deprivation when the same individuals remain consistently disadvantaged across multiple dimensions of well-being.
Child Poverty in Belgium: Despite Belgium's relatively generous welfare state, child poverty remains a persistent concern. Using data from EU-SILC or MEQIN, this master's thesis investigates the individual and structural factors that drive child poverty in Belgium and evaluates the effectiveness of targeted policy interventions in reducing it.
The Welfare Envelope and (Old-Age) Poverty: Through the welfare envelope, social partners can steer the generosity of pensions and other benefits. Using data from EU-SILC, this master's thesis investigates the impact of the welfare envelope on poverty, with a particular focus on old-age poverty.
Why Did Poverty Fall in Belgium? Belgian poverty indicators have fallen substantially since 2020. But who left poverty, and why? Using EU-SILC data from 2020 and 2025, this master's thesis compares the socioeconomic profile of people at risk of poverty before and after the COVID-19 pandemic — examining characteristics such as age, household composition, employment status, and region — in order to understand what drove the decline and whether it reflects a lasting structural improvement.
WELL-BEING & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
What Is Important in Your Life? This master's thesis explores how Belgians define a good life. Is health more important than income? Does housing quality play a key role? Do people in poor health value health more than those who are fit? Is income more critical for those with lower earnings? Drawing on the unique MEQIN dataset, the study investigates how different groups prioritize aspects of well-being.
Are We Aging Successfully? As populations grow older, understanding who ages well becomes increasingly important. This master's thesis uses data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to examine the individual and societal factors that contribute to successful aging across Europe.
Measuring Human Development beyond the HDI: Since the 1990s, the Human Development Index (HDI) has been the UNDP's flagship measure of human development, based on macro-level indicators. This master's thesis investigates how EU-SILC can be used to measure human development at the micro level.
HEALTH, CARE & WELL-BEING
Affordability of Health Care in Belgium: What are the characteristics of households that find health care unaffordable? Using the MEQIN dataset, this master's thesis examines the determinants of health care affordability and assesses how many low-income and chronically ill households struggle to access necessary care.
Cash for Care: a Silver Bullet? Individuals with disabilities have been provided with personal budgets to meet their care needs (persoonsvolgende financiering). While this system offers certain advantages, it also has drawbacks. Drawing on the annual reports of the VAPH, this master's thesis provides a thorough evaluation of the personal budget system within the disability sector.
Waiting Lists in Care: Waiting lists in care are lengthy, particularly for persons with a disability seeking a personal budget (persoonsvolgend budget). Drawing on the annual reports of the VAPH, this master's thesis describes the current state of these waiting lists and examines strategies to reduce or eliminate them from both a fairness and budgetary perspective.
Informal Care and Well-being: Many Belgians provide unpaid care to elderly or disabled family members. Drawing on data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this master's thesis examines the financial, physical, and psychological consequences of informal caregiving and explores how public policy can better support those who provide it.
Quality of Life in Small-Scale Residential Care: Small-scale residential care facilities are increasingly promoted as a more humane alternative to traditional nursing homes. But do they deliver a better quality of life for their residents? Drawing on in-depth interviews with residents, family members, and care staff, this master's thesis explores what quality of life means in these settings and whether small-scale care lives up to its promise.
LABOUR MARKET
What Drives Job Satisfaction in Belgium? Using data from the MEQIN dataset, this master's thesis explores the key factors that influence job satisfaction among Belgian workers, shedding light on what makes people feel fulfilled in their professional lives.
The Motherhood Penalty across Welfare State Regimes: Becoming a mother often comes at a cost to women's earnings and career progression — but does this penalty vary across different types of welfare states? Drawing on EU-SILC data, this master's thesis examines how the motherhood penalty differs across European welfare state regimes and what role family policies play in mitigating or reinforcing it.
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