Leaving the parental home in Italy during the economic crisis

Abstract

Using the data from the survey “Critical aspects in the work life course in a gender perspective” carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) before the recent economic crisis (2007) and the data from the survey “Youth Project” carried out in 2012 by the Toniolo Institute for Advanced Studies, we analysed a sample of Italian young adults aged between 21 and 29, in order to evaluate the effect of the Great Recession on the intentions to leave the family of origin. Implementing a probit model with sample selection, we found empirical evidence of a relevant impact of the economic downturn on decreasing the intentions of starting an independent life. Emiliano SIRONI, Researcher, Department of Statistical sciences, Catholic University, Milan, Italy. E-mail: emiliano.sironi@unicatt.it . Alessandro ROSINA, Professor of Demography, Department of Statistical sciences, Catholic University, Milan, Italy. E-mail: alessandro.rosina@unicatt.it .