Global economic crisis in Latvia: Social policy and individuals' responses

The global economic crisis has resulted in some devastating socio-economic and socio-political consequences in almost all countries of EU, and because of external and internal reasons Latvia is one of the hardest hit countries of the region. The paper discusses the manifestation of crisis, the government's response to it, and individuals' coping strategies on the basis of statistical analysis and in-depth interviews. Economic recession is characterized by GDP reduction, unemployment growth, increase in rates of poverty (needy persons), and household debt. In response to the crisis, Latvia has been forced to borrow a significant amount of money from international lenders. The government has taken severe steps towards the budget consolidation - drastic cuts of income, reduction of social insurance benefits, and increase of taxes. These measures had impact on different categories of people, but the most vulnerable groups of population were hit hardest. As a result, the need for social assistance increased. Several new activities to strengthen social security net for the poorest were introduced. Among others, one of the results of government's austerity measures is a rising distrust of the population in the system of social security, especially social insurance. In such situation inhabitants choose different individual survival strategies.