Conversion Factors in the Financial Capabilities of Extremely Poor and Segregated Roma Families

This article investigates financial capabilities and the role of conversion factors in the financial situation of segregated Roma families. We examine how these strategies are linked to stigmatisation and spatial segregation, pushing forward existing theories on financial capabilities of segregated Roma people. Building on a long-term collaborative process, we conducted semi-structured interviews with current and former residents of two urban segregated Roma neighbourhoods in Hungary, complemented with the data generated during our long-term observations and recorded in our research diaries. Our results show that if the aim is to promote the social inclusion of extremely poor, stigmatised and segregated Roma, it is more appropriate to focus on conversion factors emphasised by the concept of financial capability, mainly related to segregation, poverty and stigmatisation, rather than on the individual factors. Exploring these factors can lead to a meaningful understanding of the situation of the people concerned and to the formulation and development of policies that can support their financial inclusion and well-being.