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The extent of decommissioning: inform and influence the new social realities

The extent of decommissioning: inform and influence the new social realities

09/07/09
It has become common to assert that "social elevator is down" or a "descender office" has started. A quarter of the thirties and forties would find the lowest on the social ladder parents.

Should we worry about this phenomenon? Commissioned shortly after his arrival by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, this report proposes to take the measure of decommissioning and to identify its main factors. He opted not to address the decommissioning as a homogenous phenomenon. It proposes to separate the multiple aspects, objective or subjective, to distinguish the different levers of operative classification, declassification and reclassification in French society: the dynamics of social mobility, decommissioning school, the perception of living standards and the situation of the middle classes, housing, over-indebtedness.

It appears that the decommissioning is less objective, only a matter of opinion and deep apprehension about the future. This study aims to understand the social and societal impact of the phenomenon: the downgrade is a spur to further reform the welfare state in the direction of a more secure life trajectories. It should not be overestimated, nor in scope or in its socio-political effects: the temptation to withdraw or, conversely, the potential for mobilization attributed to him are discussed.

Beyond the various findings, the report offers recommendations to help policy makers to reduce the "discomfort around the downgrade" that currently observed in public opinion. It recommends in particular to prepare the crisis by the design of a new growth model and more oriented towards the long term.

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