The research focused on identifying the so-called “conversion factors” that lead to path-dependent choices of young people who struggle from poor housing conditions, low level of education or precariat working conditions.
In the framework of the research, MRI conducted interviews in Pécs with policy implementers, experts, and programme facilitators and 40 vulnerable young people (20 of whom are currently 15-29 years old, while 20 were at this age at the time of the financial crisis).
In the analytical phase, first the local structural and policy context was described: what are the theoretical opportunities of young people, that are provided by the local education and housing system and the labour market. Then individual, family based and institutional factors were identified, that divert young people to live with the local opportunities and to live a life, which they value. The main findings of the research process were:
- With regard to housing, we concluded that social housing functions as a trap. Rather than providing a transitory solution, it is hard to enter and to leave. There is a big gap between the rent level of public housing and private rental, which few public tenants can afford, but even if they would have sufficient household income, they prefer staying in the sector, which is possible due to the non-transparent operation of the public housing stock.
- In education, we found that public schools and supporting institutions are practically not able to counteract the lack of family support (including the positive attitude towards educational achievements) and can only support those ones who are already supported by their family. Even if there are innovative and relatively flexible educational solutions (e.g. Tanodas, Gandhi secondary school, “small 500” school that implements the Dobbantó and Orientation programmes) these can be successfully applied in case young people have proper information on them and supportive families to cooperate with the institutions. Thus, counteracting difficulties in education e.g. failing, missing out, getting pregnant before graduation, is rather remaining a challenge.
- In employment, we analysed the reasons behind the high rate of inactivity of women having children and found that besides the low adaptation of the labour market to provide flexible solutions, paternalistic family structures (where men are wage earners no matter how low that wage is) also contribute to inactivity.
- In addition, we investigated the perceptions on discrimination of Roma people in the labour market and found that education level is the most decisive factor that is able to reduce discriminatory behaviour against Roma youngsters.
After identifying the main factors behind the individuals’ path-dependent life choices, MRI formulated recommendations to improve the implementation of policies even under the current rigid and unfavourable legal and financial framework. These suggestions are focusing on 1) creating cooperations and more efficient information flow among the actors to provide comprehensive services and transparency towards clients, 2) creating transitory solutions and 3) implementing early interventions to prevent accumulations of difficulties.
The case study is available here: https://uplift-youth.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Pecs-case-study-report.pdf
More on this research including the case of other seven European cities can be found at https://uplift-youth.eu/research-policy/