The Crisis for Young People: Generational Inequalities in Education, Work, Housing and Welfare

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This book provides an original and challenging analysis of one of the most pressing social issues of our times: intergenerational inequality. Based on recent mixed-method research, it explores the extent and scope of generational divides through an up-to-date analysis of the changing opportunities for young people in Britain across different life domains. A central question addressed is whether current changes are best understood as growing inequalities within and across age groups, or whether we face a genuine intergenerational decline over the life course of this and future generations of youth. Andy Green’s controversial manifesto for intergenerational equity includes replacing higher education fees with a tax on graduates of all ages; the introduction of capital gains tax on sales of first homes; voting at 16, and a new charter of rights for private tenants.

Intro -- Also by Andy Green -- Preface -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Chapter 1 Introduction: At the Sharp-End of Globalisation and Demographic Change -- The Drivers of Changes in Opportunities for Young People -- Different Perspectives on the Crisis for Youth -- Changing Opportunities in Different Domains: Education -- Employment -- Housing -- Wealth -- Benefits and Political Representation -- Chapter 2 Education, Education ...Under-Employment: The Mantra That Failed -- Increasing Participation in Upper Secondary and Higher Education -- Increases in Average Qualification Levels at GCSE, Upper Secondary and Degree Level -- Trends in Levels of Knowledge and Skill -- Declines in Educational Inequalities? -- Trends in Inequalities of Qualification Levels -- Trends in Skills Inequalities -- Explaining the Trends in Skills Inequalities -- Pathways in Post 16 Education and Training -- Education and Jobs: The Declining Value of Qualifications on the Labour Market -- The Education Opportunity Balance Sheet -- Chapter 3 Young People and Employment: The Age of Uncertainty -- Young People's Perceptions of Their Employment Opportunities and How They Compare with Those of Their Parents -- Perceptions of Job Opportunities -- A Temporary Dislocation or a Long-Term Trend? -- Chapter 4 Britain's Housing Disaster and Its Effects on Young People -- Intergenerational Decline Meets Social Class Polarisation -- Chapter 5 Wealth and Welfare: Breaking the Generational Contract -- Wealth -- Intergenerational Transfers -- Chapter 6 Policies for Intergenerational Equity: (1) Education and Work -- Reducing Inequality in Lower Secondary Education -- Reforming Upper Secondary Education and Training -- Tertiary Education -- Student Finance -- Chapter 7 Policies for Intergenerational Equity Two: Housing -- Capital Gains Tax on Sales of First Homes.

Reforming Council Tax -- Re-regulating the Rental Sector -- Chapter 8 Political Power and Generational Prospects for the Future -- Gerontocracy and Politics -- Notes -- Chapter Two -- Chapter Three -- Chapter Four -- Chapter Five -- Chapter Six -- Chapter Seven -- Chapter Eight -- References -- Index.