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The impact of different sources of economic precariousness on the union formation of young British adults
Lydia Veronica Palumbo, Ann Berrington, Peter Eibich, Agnese Vitali

##manager.scheduler.building##: Velodromo - Bocconi University
##manager.scheduler.room##: N03
Date: 2019-01-25 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Last modified: 2018-12-26

Abstract


Youth’ precariousness has gained central importance in the life-course literature due to the increasing economic uncertainty faced by young adults. This paper analyzes the impact of precariousness on one specific transition to adulthood, union formation.Theoretical considerations suggest that precariousness delays or prevents young adults’ union formation. Yet, empirical studies show ambiguous results, as researchers often consider selected aspects of precariousness, such as past unemployment or occupational traits. This research evaluates and compares the appropriateness and the limits of various measures of precariousness, both objective and subjective, and how they impact on the transition to union.It uses longitudinal data from the British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society, spanning from 1991 to 2015. The sample consists of respondents aged between 18 and 35, who are not-partnered and might transition to marriage or cohabitation.Our indicators of precariousness include individuals’ wealth and occupational characteristics, including income level and contract type; saving behavior; receipt of institutional benefits; feelings and expectations towards the financial situation.Preliminary results are computed through simple and conditional logistic models. They show that objective measures of precariousness present the expected relationship with union formation, while subjective indicators result more ambiguous, probably because of the peculiarity of expectations at younger ages.

Keywords


Union formation; precariousness; young adults; adulthood