Dynamic assessment of material living conditions across europe: a window data envelopment analysis approach

Abstract This study proposes the use of the Window Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis model to create a composite index for evaluating material living conditions (MLCs). Findings reveal that reducing poverty has a greater effect on MLCs for women compared to men. The necessary poverty reduction increased between 2010 and 2012 and decreased between 2014 and 2016 for both genders. The adjustment for overcrowded housing showed no gender difference. Women consistently faced higher required reductions in severe material deprivation, while men had higher required reductions in the S80/S20 ratio. Women also required greater income increases to achieve an efficient level of MLCs, indicating a gender gap in income improvements. Furthermore, men consistently outperformed women in terms of MLCs across all windows. The study’s beta convergence model suggests that countries with lower initial MLC levels tend to experience faster growth rates, offering the potential to narrow the gap with countries initially having higher MLCs.