Víctor Fernández Blanco builds up a diagnosis regarding cultural participation, highlighting the different consumer profiles and the changes that these reflect in their behaviours and routines. 

In this interview David Throsby, a specialist in the economics of art and culture, offers a global view of what the concepts of culture and art mean, including their value as well as the relationship that these disciplines have with the economy. 

Tackling growing inequality in income distribution and wealth is a social challenge that demands an innovative approach. Academic Anthony B. Atkinson proposes 15 actions that combine old policies with new instruments.

John Knox, United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, explains how climate change is endangering the right to life, health, water, food, housing, development and self-determination. 

With the aim of improving parental access to the labour market, the Council of Europe is working towards all countries in the European Union achieving 33% of children enrolled in pre-school education.

On average, men earn more than women for the same jobs. However, although the crisis reduced average salaries for everyone, the related growth in unemployment affected men more than women.

The higher the level of education, the bigger the salary? Effectively, in 2015, the earnings of people with higher education qualifications were, on average, nearly 38% higher than those of people who had only completed intermediate education.

What does the level of studies attained tell us about the structure of a society? Our country has a very high proportion of university graduates, but also a large percentage of people who have completed only primary education.

How many students of immigrant origin are enrolled in the education system? During the 2014-2015 academic year in Spain, they represented 8.6% of total students, a low proportion in comparison with many other European countries

Sometimes it is difficult to translate the language of international bodies that we use on a daily basis. What are the equivalences between the ISCED educational levels used by the UNESCO and the system used in Spain?

What is the cause behind such a high disparity in the participation rates in cultural offerings financed using public funds? Does this have a direct relationship with the population’s level of education?

In today’s society, certain products or services are considered as necessary to lead an adequate life in line with the current social reality. The impossibility of accessing some of these products or services is used as an indicator of material deprivation. 

Good parenting is fundamental for children’s development. How does parental dedication differ between social groups? Knowing the answer is essential if we want an equal society.

Can education reduce social inequality? These two books, which talk to us about the theory of multiple intelligences and the importance of passion and perseverance, propose educational options for working in this direction.

Research is a potential driving force for promoting economic growth and social welfare. What is the relative effort in research that different countries make? What economic activities are related to that research? This set of indicators provides an introduction to the history of research and innovation in various countries.

How is our country positioned in cultural questions? Understanding culture in its broadest form, the indicators presented by the Social Observatory of “la Caixa” in this section allow us to interpret how culture is interrelated, within a European context, with today’s social and economic reality.

What is the country’s socioeconomic situation? The Social Observatory of “la Caixa” includes in this section a series of indicators that offer a current-day snapshot of the relationship between the economy and people, analysing aspects such as the composition of households or labour market access in comparison with the societies of peer countries.

Using a series of basic indicators and synthetic indicators on social, demographic and economic issues, this section of the Social Observatory of “la Caixa” offers a view in figures of the social reality of Spain within the European and international context.