In this paper the two indicators are used side by side. It is expected that the effect of the crisis is more visible for monetary poverty than for material deprivation because the former is more sensitive to variations in the income stream (Whelan, Layte, & MaTtre 2004). Low income, adjusted for household size and composition, is thus measured with reference to the 'average' person in the society. However, the relative poverty indicator is less useful during the crisis, when the living standards of the whole population may be changing.