The decline of the Italian middle class: an uncertain future for the next generations

76% of Italians think that it is increasingly difficult to move up the social ladder: 74.7% of those who feel they belong to the middle class, 79.5% to the working class and 68.3% to the affluent class share this idea. The perception of the blocking of social mobility is shared by 78.5% of those with incomes up to €15,000, 78.9% between €15 and €35,000, 77% between €35 and €50,000, and 64.2% with €50,000 and over. Furthermore, there is a widespread belief that the trend of wealth over time is downward. They believe that past generations lived better off 66.6% of Italians and, in particular, 65.7% of the middle class, 70.1% of the working class and 56.7% of the well-off. At the same time, 76.1% of citizens think that future generations will be worse off than the current ones: 75.1% of the middle class, 77.1% of the working class and 78% of the affluent.

This explains why the present and the future are marked by a fear of downgrading, by a propensity to defend one's status quo rather than to improve, with the conviction that welfare trends over time are decreasing. An idea rooted in the country's social belly, shared in full by the clear majority of people who feel part of the middle class: 66.6% of Italians (65.7% of the middle class) are convinced that past generations lived better and 76.1% of Italians (75.1% of the middle class) believe that future generations will be worse off than the current ones.

For a long time, certain erosive processes of the condition of the middle class in Italy were considered unstoppable and almost automatic. The research presented to the Chamber comes to the conclusion that other policies are possible, and that a different political-institutional commitment to the needs of the middle class would not be a response to a socially-corporatist solicitation, but an important contribution to the relaunch of the country. "Wealth," reads the document, "must once again become a legitimate and attainable goal for those who are talented and choose to invest time and energy in work, in projects, in innovation, obtaining good results. This socio-cultural orientation is fundamental for re-motivating people and could greatly contribute to the relaunch of Italian development. 'Only by valuing commitment to work, talent, knowledge and skills can the mechanisms of growth be reactivated,' Cuzzilla emphasised.

For 80.6% of Italians, taxation should reward more and better those who create enterprise, work, opportunities: 82% of the middle class, 77.3% of the working class and 84.8% of the well-off think so too. In this regard, 78.6% of Italians and, specifically, 80% of those belonging to the middle class believe that they are harmed by tax evasion. This idea is also shared by 76% of the working classes and 79.9% of the well-off.

It is crucial for Italians to increasingly allow people of retirement age to manage their life choices independently. In fact, 59.6% of Italians are convinced that pensioners who want to work should be allowed to do so. An idea shared by 61.4% of the middle class, 54.8% of the working class and 68.7% of the well-off. Moreover, for 55.3% of Italians it is necessary to leave each individual the freedom to retire at the age he or she prefers, without penalties or rewards for doing so.

For 57.9% of Italians, commitment and ability are not adequately rewarded (54.9% of the middle class). Furthermore, 81% think it is fair that those who work harder earn more (80% of the middle class), and 73.7% think it is legitimate and fair that a talented and capable person can become rich (75% of the middle class).

Faced with contemporary complexities, epochal processes of transition related to new technologies or sustainability, 87.1% of Italians are convinced that only a massive and capillary grafting of managerial cultures and practices will be able to allow the upgrading of functionality that is now required of the Italian country system. For 82.7%, the good manager in companies and organisations is the one who knows how to drive and motivate others. For 84.4% of Italians, higher efficiency in companies and public administration requires managers who are strongly oriented towards rewarding the most deserving at every level.

Two examples come out of the survey. The first is that of theschool. 52.7% of Italians in families with children have a positive opinion of school managers, 26.6% a negative one, and 20.7% have no precise opinion on the matter. For 68.6% to do well as a school manager, managerial skills are also needed, 85.8% of families are convinced that if a school is well managed in terms of organisation, it is also more likely to guarantee good teaching performance.

The second example is health care. Doctors in the health service, even in this stage so difficult for access to services, benefit from a high 'social reputation'. 65.6 per cent of Italians are convinced that if healthcare has held up over time, in emergencies and ordinariness, it is due to the self-sacrifice of doctors. 74.5% of Italians trust hospital doctors and 71.6% trust general practitioners. For Italians the human factor has been decisive so far in the health service and will remain so in the future, so it is essential to loosen the grip of economic constraints. Indeed, 76.5 per cent believe that too much emphasis has been placed in the health system on economic sustainability over health protection.