Similarities and differences between two cohorts of young adults in Italy

The paper analyses the results of a CATI survey, consisting on a representative national sample of 3083 young people of two different generations: the 23-27th and the 33-37th in the first half of 2004. The analysis is particularly targeted at the oldest cohort and investigates on the late transition to adulthood and its effect on fertility. We wonder whether Italian situation is converging to the European one. We also analyse the transition processes to all the events of the "life course" as interrelating mechanisms, where each process is the premise for the next step, but where all are probably considered indispensable for choosing to have a child. The results suggest a diffusion of new family forms among youth but a persistent delay in family formation.