Magyar_Ifjusag_2012_tanulmanykotet

Hungarian Youth 2012 – Summary of the volume of studiesHungarian Youth 2012Summary of the volume of studiesI. DemographicsTamás Domokos: Hungarian youth and demographic transitionIn his introductory study, Tamás Domokos addresses such fundamental andconstantly changing issues faced by young people as the decision to havechildren, entering the labour market or the alteration of economic positions.With the economic and social transformation of the 1990s, young people’straditional paths towards adulthood also underwent changes. Earlier,primary and secondary factors of socialisation integrated adolescentsinto the system of social positions and well-established life patterns in apre-plannable manner. The structural changes that have taken place in theearly 21th century have had a sensitive effect precisely on the practical implementationof these inherited plans on getting started in life, while patternsstill carry the old presuppositions.Analysis of the early-life beginnings of young people between the ageof 15 and 29 shows that the first step is gaining professional qualification,which is, on average, planned to take place at 19.2 years, which is followedby the completion of studies at 19.4 years and the establishment of a stablerelationship at 20.5 years. According to respondents, the ideal age ofthe entry to the labour market would also be in this phase, at 21.7 years ofage. Logically and in accordance with society’s expectations, the next stepis moving out of the family home (27.1 years), which is followed by movingto an individually owned, self-contained property (28 years) and finally thedecision to have children as the last chapter at 28.5 years of age.Two demographic phenomena earlier mainly typical of Western Europehave also appeared among Hungary’s young population that are connected345