La distribuzione delle risorse tra generazioni e le proposte di un fondo per l’accesso alla vita adulta

In most of the Western countries the population is aging at a high rate both because of the increase in the life expectancies, and the decrease of the fertility rate. This change in the structure of the population needs for a reconsideration of the welfare state and of the concept of equality of opportunity. In this paper, the asset-welfare agenda approach is illustrated either theoretically, looking at the most recent proposals of grants for young people, and for its concrete applications, even if they are a few. Furthermore, a large empirical evidence of the distribution of resources for the different generations, in Italy and in a few other European countries is presented. The data here illustrated confirm the generalized feeling of the European public opinions that the economic condition of the young adults is worst with respect to that of their parents in terms of labour, ownership of the house, and the pension perspective. These conditions have implications for the choices of the new generations, both looking at the formation of their own family, and/or at the investiment in their own human capital. And these decisions shoud matter to the entire society. With these reasons in mind, here is debated if a grant for young people may help in transferring resources from the aged population to the young