Demography: Why don't the Greeks start families? What new studies show

Economic uncertaintyproblems with housing and a large distance to grandparents are the main obstacles that the Greeks face when creating a family.

The Greeks are ready to make sacrifices to create a family, as a new study shows, in which the vast majority impose responsibility to the state for its inability to realize social politicians that protect the family.

In a survey conducted Prorata Among 871 people aged 17 years and older in the period from January 14 to January 18, 2025, objective conditions were recorded that prevent the Greeks in creating their own home, as well as their personal perceptions.

The results of the study commented on two scientists: a professor of social inequalities and social reproductions in University of the Aegean Sea Tanasis Alexy And Kostas Safirisprofessor of demography at the Department of History and Ethnology Democratic university.

Grandparents are needed, but they are far away

Since parents do not live 33% of respondents, 25% of the remaining 67% are at a distance of 30 minutes to several hours from their parents, 21% lives in the same house or in one apartment building with parents. This creates difficulties, as the professor of social inequalities and social reproductions notes Tanasis Alexyfuture parents do not have their parents to take care of children when the opportunities are limited, for example, due to the lack of kindergartens.

“Many children live far from their parents, but from the results it is clear that they try to stay close to their parents for obvious reasons, and this seems logical to me”, says Alexy.

By teaching, among other things, the sociology of the family, Tanasis Alexy claims that “It is good when grandparents participate in raising children, as this contributes to their socialization, because they perceive time through the prism of consistent generations, and this is social capital, and regardless of parents, as the psychoanalytic position suggests that we have not become adults “.

25% live in a rented apartment

One of the four lives for rent, while 57% are the owners of their housing – either by inheritance, or by buying it on credit.

15% live with their parents.

“Here, I think, one of the critical questions is housing, – Emphasizes Tanasis Alexy. – What is absent in Greece is social housing. ” He He says that people either live on rent, either buy housing, or inherited it, or live with his parents: “Thus, there is absolutely no social housing, which in other countries can cover up to 30% of housing needs”.

84% declare financial uncertainty

The main reasons why the Greeks cannot create a family include financial uncertainty (84%), insufficient support from the state (39%) and personal priorities (34%).

Commenting on objective and subjective conditions that prevent the Greeks from creating families, professor Tanasis Alexy He believes that there is a dialectical connection between them: “Objective conditions are as they are presented in the results. As we have seen, the lack of housing is perhaps the most important factor. Most of the respondents either live on rent or with parents, which means that there is a common feeling of uncertainty. This is obviously due to unemployment and the lack of prospects for the future, which has a purely economic and social basis. “.

24% experience difficulties in finding a suitable partner

Kostas Safirisprofessor of demography at the Department of History and Ethnology Democratic universitybelieves that people answer questions based on what they hear: “It is logical that people answer, mixing personal experience and what is happening in society”. He draws attention to the fact that issues are addressed to people of different ages – from youth to the elderly. “

“This is a question. Because it is one thing – what do you want to do, and quite another – what you did, or what did you think what you will do. Therefore, it would be more representative if only people aged 20 to 40-45 years were interviewed, ” – He emphasizes, adding that he himself would have otherwise prioritize problems.

As he notes, he would expect higher interest in the difficulties of balancing professional and personal life (19%): “Because here we have a big problem of labor and family life that needs to be solved, and this is especially true in the private sector. For employees of the public sector, much more has been made than for employees of the private sector “.

24% Respondents note difficulties in finding a suitable partner. “Finding a suitable partner does not mean anything. This is what you have in your head. In the modern world, in a Greek individualistic society, everything is a little strange. And you see how young couples build relationships and destroy them, “the world has not collapsed” ”, Notices the professor Democratic university Tanasis Alexy.

“Uncertainty regarding work, fear of dismissal, or, if you want, the feeling that some standards of Greek society no longer exist, such as issues related to public benefits, schools, education, train security, all this creates a general feeling of uncertainty, which, in fact , transmitted to people “– says Alexy.

The vast majority would reduce entertainment for children

The vast majority of respondents show that they would put their personal desires and preferences in the background to cope with financial difficulties associated with the marriage and the prospect of parenthood.

For example 88% would agree to a cheaper car, 85% would reduce the costs of outputs and entertainment, and 84% They would agree to fewer benefits for themselves to ensure family life and parenthood. “A large number of people would be abandoned from the car, exits, etc. I associate this with a sense of responsibility “, – notes Alexy.

In the same spirit, acts and Kostas Safiriswho claims that people “dilute their wine” and do it very much. “People have experience in the economic crisis. They know that the cost of life and expenses are growing. Therefore, they will reduce their expenses, abandon one, from the other. This is a logical reaction “– speaks Kostas Safiris.

However, commenting on the fact that the majority would not leave their area (52%), he explains: “The Greeks suffer from the“ empty nest ”syndrome. People are used to their areas, many are not cosmopolitans, they have a tendency to stay in their area. It's good “.

For your part Kostas Safiris Notes that Economic uncertainty It is the biggest problem for young people, emphasizing that, for example, there is high unemployment, etc.

As for the importance of lack of housing as a restraining factor (30%), both scientists consider this a decisive factor. Kostas Safiris: “On the issue of lack of housing, I will tell you the truth, I expected that the numbers would be more, given what level the rental has reached, and how difficult it is to get your own housing”.

State inefficiency

It captures the lack of state policy. “The social policy of the state, I think, is at least insufficient, because, for example, social policy does not mean only benefits, etc., but also means school how it will function, at what hours, this means the cost of raising children . That is, some kind of child should learn foreign languages, then go to a tutorial school, which is a huge cost. Then it will go to the university, where education is formally free. This means that the couple, especially in the conditions of economic uncertainty, experiences great stress and pressure to create a family, not to mention to marry “– he emphasizes.

Professor Democratic university He speaks of “hegemonist behavior” in Greek society. “At present, the cultural context suggests that you need to have few children and marry in adulthood. He does not say “girl, you are 18 years old, go and get married.” And he does not say “boy, you are 20 years old, get married.” He says: “Look, study, get a master's degree, find a good job, find a good partner, etc.” ”.

Thus, a demography specialist in Democratov Universitycombining all of the above, comes to the conclusion that personal priorities go hand in hand with social pressure: “Personal priorities fit into the socio-cultural context”.

Grandmothers, parents, children are a real family, they think 66%

For 66% Disters family are a traditional model with grandparents and children. However, the same amount 65%believes that even people who live in a civil marriage or married with children are a family. Even two idle people with children are perceived as a family for 41%.

Respondents believe that the family includes three generations, notes Tanasis Alexy: “Because family is not only a harbor in a soulless world, as a sociologist says Christopher Lasbut also a source of security for people “. This is especially true for children, he adds, “Who will be brought up by grandparents who will help in their upbringing, because there is no appropriate infrastructure for social reproduction (for example, kindergartens), there is no harmony between family and professional life, especially for women to free themselves from households and work and work and work T.D. “.

A sense of responsibility prevails

Half of the respondents feel responsible for the thought of becoming or becoming parents again, while almost 4 out of 10 are covered by fear. The third largest sense is joy (28%), and uncertainty is 22%.

“It is very important that as a society we have a reserve, and there is a sense of responsibility, – Notes Tanasis Alexy. – Uncertainty and fear do not prevail over responsibility, which means that these people are aware of their capabilities “the specialist says optimism, emphasizing that if “The state will offer opportunities, then uncertainty and fear will be relative, and people will be inclined to create a family. I think this discovery is very important “.

“Fear and uncertainty increase where people rent housing or live with parents”notes Alexy. For example, among those who live on lease, uncertainty is 26%and fear – 19%; Among those who live with parents, these indicators make up 29% And 29% respectively. “I believe that living with parents means that to some extent they abandon their autonomy as independent personalities”– emphasizes Tanasis Alexy.

85% believe that the state does not support families sufficiently

The vast majority of respondents (85%) It is believed that the state does not sufficiently support families. How Kostas Safirisso Tanasis Alexy Note huge responsibilities of the state, as reflected in the answers of the respondents.

“The quality of life means that you have a society that satisfies the needs of people, depending on what they are”, – Notes Kostas Safiris. “The state does not support the family at all”. But not only the state is responsible, according to the professor Democratic universitybut also local government. “For example, in all countries of the former socialist Europe there are playgrounds, in Greece there is no such culture”– he emphasizes.

At the level of state duties, according to Tanasice Alexythe housing issue is the main problem that exacerbates the uncertainty of youth. “I believe that only the construction of social housing – well -known working apartments – can solve this problem. As you know, working housing has been canceled since 2012-2013 due to memorandums ”- It reminds the professor, being sure that with the help of social housing you can significantly soften the housing problem.

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