Researching for greater equality – Pernilla Liedgren sheds light on people's vulnerability

Her academic work spans areas such as over-indebtedness, financial vulnerability, debt restructuring, self-presentation in relation to financial debt, economic violence, income support and municipal activation – all of which can be regarded as part of classic poverty research. In addition, Pernilla Liedgren has been involved in projects focusing on evidence-based practice.

• Pernilla Liedgren will give her inaugural lecture 9 May 08:45 in C203, house Balder. 
  The lecture is held in Swedish.

Recently, the topic of over-indebtedness has been in focus for her, something that began when the Enforcement Authority wanted to see more research in the area a number of years ago and announced grants. Pernilla Liedgren was one of those who took the opportunity.

 "Initially, the area received quite little attention and it was fun that there were so many unexplored issues to investigate," she said. 

Wants to end the stigma around over-indebtedness

The number of over-indebted people – individuals who cannot repay their debts in the foreseeable future – has increased both in Sweden and the rest of the Nordic region. The negative development is often linked to the deregulation of the credit market in the 1980s, which made it easier to take out loans. But Pernilla Liedgren points out that over-indebtedness is a phenomenon with its own specific characteristics. It is described as a cause of great individual suffering and high societal costs.

"In addition, over-indebtedness is associated with stigma, as the inability to pay debts is often interpreted as fraudulent or reckless behaviour. But to stigmatise vulnerable people and say that it is their fault that they are where they are, it is not only unsympathetic, but also ignorant and outrageous," she has concluded, after years of her own research in the field.

Instead, the reason is often that other actors, such as gaming companies, take advantage of the situation.

"It's terrible how indebted people are treated. With my research, I want to reveal these issues and the vulnerability. Especially nowadays it feels important to protect the forces of good and stand up for them," said Pernilla Liedgren.

Developing methods that help vulnerable people out of their difficult situation

One of her major driving forces is to create knowledge about interventions for vulnerable groups and thereby improve these interventions.

In this way, I want to contribute to a more equal, equitable, and sustainable society.

So far, it has meant development materials that can help budget and debt counsellors support clients in how they present their story without feeling shame and guilt that leads to passivity. 

"In this way, you can help people feel better and with their own strength fight their way out of their situation, even if it feels hopeless," said Pernilla Liedgren, who has many years of experience as a social worker behind her.

Another concrete example is that she, in collaboration with the social services in Eskilstuna, has developed a progression tool that will contribute to an understanding of how people with income support become independent. 

Looking forward to building up the social work programme

After receiving her doctorate, Pernilla Liedgren taught and was very involved in the social work programme and she thinks that teaching future generations of social workers is enjoyable and important. Despite this, she has done more and more research over the past ten years.

"Now research will take off for me and I am looking forward to that, it is also meaningful that it enables me to support other researchers in their development. I see supporting the new generation and developing new research questions as an important task for me," said Pernilla Liedgren.

She also sees it as a privilege to be involved in laying the foundation for a new education and research initiative.

"Social work has not been a subject at the University of Borås before. There have been researchers in social work, but not many. Now there are three of us and will hire more people and build up the social work programme. A lot of work lies ahead of us, but it will also be very enjoyable to develop social work as a platform at the university. 

She says that it also means educational work in relation to the university. 

"We will create a programme, educate social workers, but it is also about getting the university to understand what social work and research on social work entail. It will be fun to take on that task," said Pernilla Liedgren.