Editing Economy of Malta (section)

==Poverty==
Poverty and social exclusion are significant problems in Malta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111017/opinion/Maltese-living-in-poverty.389492|title=Maltese living in poverty|work=Times of Malta|date=17 October 2011 |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref> As of 2008, an estimate of 15% of Malta's citizens were living below the poverty line, which was slightly better than the EU average of 17% at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/Maltese-living-in-poverty.389492|title=Maltese living in poverty|website=Times of Malta|date=17 October 2011 |language=en-gb|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> To address the issue of poverty, on 24 December 2014 Malta addressed poverty in the six branches of social services, health and environment, culture, income and social benefits, education and employment, by unveiling the National Strategic Policy for Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion; this will stay in effect from 2014 to 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160312/opinion/Strategy-for-poverty-reduction.605360|title=Strategy for poverty reduction|last=Cuschieri|first=Claudia|date=12 March 2016 |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> Under this policy, stakeholders will be involved in the discussion of how to reduce hardships experienced by families living in Malta.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/resources/malta/green-paper-framework-poverty-reduction-and-social-inclusion-2014-2024|title=Green Paper: A Framework for Poverty Reduction and for Social Inclusion 2014-2024|access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>