The association of economic and cultural capital with the NEET rate: differential geographical and temporal patterns

Abstract

Using data from 103 Italian provinces, we investigated the relationship between local/regional development, and NEET. We constructed an indicator of cultural capital and another of economic capital and we studied their relation with the NEET rate. Covariance Structure Analysis with Generalized Least Squares estimation was employed, considering a three time-points retrospective model. Results indicate a consistent protective effect of the economic capital on the NEET rate, both in the short run (2 years) and in the medium run (10 years). However, this effect has been obtained in the Central provinces (at 2 and 10 years) and Southern provinces (at 10 years), but not in the Northern provinces. A mediation analysis indicated that, historically, the cultural capital may partly mediate the effect of the economic capital. We did not detect a significant direct effect of the cultural capital on the NEET rate, which is strongly mediated by the action of the economic capital. Together, these results denote that the economic capital is a strong predictor of NEET, but not in very competitive economic areas.

Antecedents of youths who are not in employment, education or training: Micro-level evidence

“…Studies in this regard have cited severe inequalities to access quality education (Amnesty International 2020; Spaull 2015), while others have suggested that the system, particularly at the secondary level, fails to equip the needed skills that are demanded in the labour market (Asmal et al 2020;Hall 2015). Considering that higher levels of education, specifically more post-secondary levels, showed notable improvements in lowering NEET rates, the findings signalled the importance of higher human capital levels towards successfully obtaining employment (Ripamonti & Barberis 2021).…”

“…In conjunction with these insights, various scholars have also linked the prevalence of NEET among youth to the presence of economic deprivation, a situation where individuals struggle to fulfil their basic needs and perceive this lack as a denial of what is rightfully theirs (Ripamonti & Barberis 2021;Rahmani & Groot 2023;Su, Wong & To 2020). Within this context, economically deprived youth often find themselves in the category of NEET because of limited access to education, training and employment opportunities, hindering their path to economic independence.…”

Cultural capital, economic capital, and participation in early childhood education: A place‐based approach

“…In the short and medium run, we found that cultural capital, independently of economic capital, correlates with the rate of participation in center‐based ECED. It is already known from previous research that economic capital is a predictor of cultural capital at a macro geographical level (Ripamonti & Barberis, 2021). Indeed, the mediation analysis presented herein indicates that, at least in part (about one‐third of the mediation effect), the role of cultural capital in participation in center‐based ECED can be attributed to the historical effect of economic capital.…”

“…We may put forward a three‐step theoretical mechanism to account for this phenomenon. Firstly, in line with Ripamonti and Barberis (2021) provinces with higher economic capital may also increase their cultural capital in the medium run. Secondly, we may hypothesize that living in provinces with higher cultural capital may also lead social and political institutions to have a greater awareness of the importance of investing in ECED.…”

“…Cultural capital has also been conceptualized at an aggregate level (DiMaggio & Mohr, 1985), and as such, it has been adopted in the present investigation. Previous studies indicate that cultural capital can be related to early school leaving (Ripamonti & Barberis, 2018) but not to the not in education, employment, or training (NEET) rate (Ripamonti & Barberis, 2021). In the short and medium run, we found that cultural capital, independently of economic capital, correlates with the rate of participation in center‐based ECED.…”