Is it possible to secure better employment by working prior to obtaining a university qualification? This analysis shows that it is, but only if the job is related to the degree’s content.

Is the Learning and Performance Improvement Programme (PMAR) effective for the prevention of early school leaving? According to this study, participating in the PMAR increases the probability of obtaining an ESO qualification by 12%.

Labour precarity among young people especially affects women. They occupy worse-paid positions with higher rates of temporary work than men.

Involuntary self-employment in Spain (21.7% of self-employed people) exceeded the European average (16.9%) in 2017. This study indicates that involuntary self-employment is common among young people and people with a low educational level.

Does  it pay to be a micro-influencer? Some 62% of those interviewed in this study are dissatisfied with their earnings in relation to the impact that they generate in their communities.

Some 23.5% of pupils of immigrant origin leave school in the transition between compulsory and post-compulsory education. We analyse the differences by pupils' migration status and sex.

What role must teachers play to combat early leaving from education and training of young people of foreign origin? This study shows that their support is key and that they must count on the necessary resources for guiding pupils.

According to this study, in comparison with the year 2002, in 2010 there was an increase in the time that mothers, and even more so fathers, devoted to their children. Despite this, the gender gap persists.

Is the gig economy threatening workers’ wellbeing? The rise in temporary and self-employment, favoured by the digital platforms, seems to be affecting quality of life.

An experiment with an amateur football team reveals difficulties in social integration for people of foreign origin. When faced with similar profiles, team managers tended towards choosing players with local names. 

Can football alter opinions on immigration? According to this study, among a club’s followers, when the team wins thanks to foreign players, immigration is perceived more positively. 

Google searches for terms such as passport, salary, or social care, as well as the desired destination country, can offer clues regarding tendencies in migratory flows.

”la Caixa” Foundation launches an open and competitive call to fund excellent, innovative and socially-oriented research projects.

Do municipal councils in Spain reflect the diversity of origins of the population? We analyse access to local politics for immigrants and whether differences exist between the different foreign groups. 

What to do with young, unaccompanied refugees who at the age of 18 have their state tutelage removed? In Belgium, they voted for a comprehensive individualised accompaniment and support from young native people with whom they are co-housed.

Through the training of immigrant mothers, so that they can act as “neighbourhood mothers”, this action, carried out in Denmark, is successful in transmitting to women from ethnic minorities their rights and obligations in the host country.

“From refugees to citizens” is the slogan for the project of the German city of Altena to facilitate the social integration of refugees and asylum seekers. The distinctive trait of this experience is the leading role played by civil society.

Temporary work contracts are more common among the foreign population: in 2018, some 37.1% of the employed population of foreign origin had temporary contracts and 19.3%, part-time contracts, 13 and 6 points higher, respectively, than the population of native origin.

In the United States, a programme aims to ensure that all students acquire basic language skills, with support measures for families and teachers. Equality in education in order to be abel to opt for the same opportunities for success

The ”la Caixa” Foundation’s ICI project is an approach to the ethnocultural diversity of the local community, as well as that contributed by foreign immigration, with the goal of enhancing coexistence and social cohesion.

Immigration causes economic, political, and cultural changes in host societies. These two works propose intelligent, innovative, and collaborative solutions to tackle the challenges of immigration.

What volume of immigration can the rich countries absorb? Expert Giovanni Peri affirms that not only should low-skilled and low-wage immigrants be admitted but also highly skilled professionals.

The arrival of foreign pupils at state-owned schools caused the displacement of the children of native families with greater resources towards private schools. What effects does this displacement have on the quality of the public system?

In 2019, nearly 10% of residents in Spanish municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants had been born abroad. Is immigration rejuvenating and preserving activity in depopulated areas of Spain?

The immigrant collective is one of the most vulnerable groups and, if we compare it with native workers, a significant income gap is revealed. In this report we analyse this population segment’s social needs before covid-19.

What challenges and opportunities are posed by immigration? The ninth Dossier from the Social Observatory of ”la Caixa” analyses why this phenomenon is key for the sustainability of depopulated areas in Spain and its impact on the education system.  

Does being an immigrant influence employability? Judging by the data, yes, and prominently: in 2018, the occupation rate of the foreign population in Spain with higher education was 9.2 points below that of the native population.

In 2018, the equivalent median income of individuals born abroad was some 37.8% lower than that of individuals born in Spain. A difference much higher than the EU average, which stands at 7.3%.

In 2018, of every 2 people of foreign origin in Spain, 1 was at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Discover if this exceeds the average of the EU countries.

Did you know that 13.3% of Spain’s population is of foreign origin? Applications for asylum originating from extra-Community countries have multiplied by 12 in the last ten years in Spain.

Only 27.7% of the foreign population gains access to higher education in Spain, against 44% of the native population.

The percentage of “NEETs” (Not in Education, Employment or Training) is much higher in Spain among women of foreign origin than among men (27.8% versus 21.6%).

Some 30.4% of people of foreign origin live in households in which their housing costs exceed 40% of their disposable income.

The population of immigrant origin has more probabilities of residing in over-occupied dwellings. Thus, in 2018, some 13.2% of people of foreign origin in Spain were living in overcrowded dwellings.

In 2017, Spanish nationality was obtained by 66,498 people, some 1.1% of the total of the immigrant population and a lower percentage than in other countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.

People of Spanish and foreign nationalities alike have a perception of their health as good or very good, and above the European Union average.

In 2017, some 7 out of every 10 Spaniards considered that the integration of immigrants was generally satisfactory, a percentage much higher than the EU average.

In Sweden, with the collaboration of the Public Employment Service and agents from various employment sectors, newly arrived immigrants are trained to facilitate their rapid inclusion into the labour market.

Do we work the number of hours we really want to? The percentage of young people who are experiencing imbalances has increased significantly over the last 10 years, especially among
those who would prefer to work more hours.

Four out of every ten workers in Spain, who have or are seeking a job, would be prepared to go and live somewhere else. Income and the professional career associated with upwards social mobility are the main reasons for interregional mobility.   

People who get their news via social media networks give more credit to fake news. This study underlines the difficulty of effectively combating false information. 

Between 1998 and 2008, the percentage of immigrant population in Spain grew from 3% to 13%. Did this favour the appearance of ghettos? Or was there balance in residential areas between natives and immigrants?

Things are becoming increasingly difficult for tax evaders, with the new big data and artificial intelligence techniques that detect hidden wealth, the abuse of aggressive tax engineering and money laundering.

People have important misperceptions regarding the level of taxes that they pay. Does knowing more change what we think about redistribution?

¿Does childhood obesity as a result of a disadvantaged family environment exist? This article points towards the fact that, in the face of psychological distress, many children use food as an escape valve, which causes a loss of control over their diet.

Despite a slight increase in participation by men, this study shows that housework and childcare represented a heavier workload for women during the lockdown.

The digital divide reduces equal opportunities for citizens. This article examines the reasons for this based on the analysis of ICT use patterns among Spanish compulsory secondary-school students.  

Technology has played a key role in us continuing to work and study from home, but also in leisure and communication. We spent, on average, over 9 hours a day in front of screens. Does greater consumption mean more or less wellbeing?

This call of the Social Observatory of ”la Caixa” aims to support social research projects on inequality and the social pact in Spain.

Climate change is a concern worldwide, but what influences support for climate change policies? According to this study, the determining factor is the perceived effectiveness of each measure.

Are mothers at a disadvantage when being considered for promotion at work? This study shows that they are not, providing that they have not taken options such as flexible or reduced working hours or teleworking.

The gender gap in employment prior to covid-19 stood at around 16.5%. This article assesses the impact of economic crises and analyses the evolution of female employment between 1980 and 2017.

“In-work poverty” has the greatest impact on women and young people, and this was the case before the covid-19 crisis. This article shows that between 2010 and 2014, the median wage fell by 5.2%.

How do families solve the problem of balancing work and family life when school finishes for the summer? Women bear the brunt in the labour sphere.

Do we have quality education? In this report we analyse three fundamental dimensions: access to sufficient educational level, obtaining of adequate knowledge to contribute to economic and social development, and degree of inclusion of the education system.

The aim of excise duties is to reduce the negative impact on society of specific consumption, such as fuels or tobacco. This report shows that they are regressive in their current design.

The increase in economic inequality in recent years in Spain translates into the richest 1% of the population obtaining a higher income than the poorest 50%. What lies behind this concentration of capital?

Is labour polarisation occurring in Europe? This study, prior to the covid-19 crisis, shows that in Spain, in barely 25 years, employment in higher-quality occupations has almost doubled. 

We analyse the relative influence of the family background and the skills of each person on social mobility. Are there differences between the Nordic countries and those in southern Europe such as Italy and Spain? 

The impact of the covid-19 crisis on the labour market is being more pronounced in the Mediterranean countries and is concentrated on workers with low salaries and in precarious jobs, as well as women and younger workers.

The aim of the call was to support survey-based research that allows data to be obtained on the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on Spanish society.

The aim of the call was to support survey-based research that allows data to be obtained on the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on Spanish society.

Does a wealth tax help to reduce inequality when it comes to distributing wealth? This report shows that Spain’s wealth tax displays major shortcomings that limit its collection and redistributive impact. 

Healthcare spending is unequal: it increases with age and is higher among men than women. Furthermore, 5% of the population is responsible for 50% of total expenditure. We analyse the factors that explain this, within a pre-covid-19 scenario.

A lack of investment in innovation, major employment precarity and a lack of refresher training are obstacles for tackling the digitalisation of the Spanish economy. We analyse the causes.    

Have we improved in terms of equality between men and women? In this report we analyse five dimensions: economic wellbeing, employment, access to decent housing, education and state of health.

”la Caixa” Foundation launches an open and competitive call to fund excellent, innovative and socially-oriented research projects. 

Elderly people enjoy greater economic stability but suffer from a worse state of health. We analyse the situation of this population segment prior to the drastic change caused by covid-19.

A lack of professional opportunities and labour precarity mean that young people are very vulnerable to economic crises. What were the circumstances of this group prior to covid-19?

Deprivations during childhood become unequal opportunities in adulthood. Understanding the conditions in which this population segment lived prior to the covid-19 crisis can help to prepare for the future.

We analyse possible reforms, considered in a pre-covid-19 scenario, for improving the welfare state in Spain and its redistributive capacity in relation to the European average.

One of the risks of the pandemic is an increase in child poverty. We analyse the effectiveness of redistributive polices (pre-covid-19) whose aim is to protect vulnerable households with children.

Can poverty be eradicated? Michael Kremer, Nobel Prize for Economics 2019, talks to us about new tools for the economy, which enable us to obtain a rigorous estimate of causes and impacts.

The situation in the coming months forces us to reflect on our society's (pre-covid-19) redistributive capacity. Spain is one of the EU countries with the greatest income inequality. 

Population changes can occur due to variations in the population caused by natural changes and migratory movements.

In 2017, one out of every four people was at risk of poverty and social exclusion in Spain, three points higher than the European average(EU-28: 23.5%)

Between the years 2007 and 2017, inequality in Spain increased, with a Gini Coeficient (not including social transfers) that has increased in value from 45 to 50

The GDP in purchasing power standards allows a more exact comparison of the level of economic development between countries. In 2017, the GDP per inhabitant in Purchasing Power Standards remained at 92% of the European average, unchanged from the previous year

Some 79.3% of households with children and with very low work intensity were at risk of poverty in 2017. Does this figure exceed the European average?

To what point do poverty and material deprivation affect the households in which children live? The eighth Dossier from the Social Observatory of ”la Caixa” analyses the relationship between child poverty and its consequences, such as health problems, academic failure and social mobility difficulties. 

In Spain barely 3.3% of the total of social transfers in the year 2016 targeted children, against the European average of 9%. However, this study shows that it is the most effective way of eradicating poverty.

The CaixaProinfancia programme supports families in a situation of poverty with academic reinforcement, grants for food and hygiene, leisure, psychotherapeutic care and family educational support.

The books reviewed here consider why it is important for everyone, and not just for the most vulnerable, to achieve more egalitarian societies.

Despite the economic recovery, in 2018 three out of every ten children were living in a situation of anchored poverty. Poverty during childhood has consequences throughout life. We analyse its impact.

The difference in unemployment rates between men and women in our country is larger than the European average. How has it evolved during the recent years of economic crisis?

The “la Caixa” Banking Foundation grants programme, which funds postgraduate studies, has a major impact on the careers of its beneficiaries. Who applies for these grants and what factors determine to whom they are awarded?

Two out of every three workers in manual occupations are men, and women continue to be a minority in occupations such as construction, and industry. What factors influence segregation by gender in the labour market?

Caring for children and dependent elderly people, cooking, cleaning the house… what economic value can we attribute to unpaid domestic tasks? We calculate what this invisible work would represent for Spain’s GDP. 

The most visible face of loneliness is the feeling of not having people to call on or trust in case of need. Who does it affect most? We analyse the influence of factors such as age and gender.  

According to this study, we frequently interact with an average of 536 acquaintances, but the number is different for each person. What factors influence the size of our relationship circles?

The call has been open to social research projects that, will help to analyse the net effect of a “brain drain” on scientific activity in the country of origin by using quantitative techniques. 

This report analyses four challenges relating to health in Spain: improving the population’s health, promoting healthy lifestyle habits, guaranteeing access to healthcare and the viability of services for dependency.

The call has been open to foster research in the social sciences by supporting original research that can shed light on three specific aspects of social reality in Spain: vocational training, early school leaving and job insecurity.

According to this study, following new additions to the family only 4% of fathers requested reduced working hours, versus 37.7% of mothers. 

Elizabeth Rasekoala, President of African Gong, defends the importance of science as a tool for social transformation and talks to us about the need for acquiring basic scientific literacy in order to be able to think critically.

The call has been open to research projects that, through the conducting of a multi-annual survey over the course of the next four years, contributes a new analysis of a social phenomenon or problem and its evolution over time.

Theatre, opera, classical music, dance… Can digital consumption be an opportunity to attract new audiences to so-called high culture?  

Este informe recoge el análisis sobre la situación social en España y sobre la capacidad de las ayudas y subsidios existentes para garantizar unos ingresos mínimos a todos los ciudadanos, con el objetivo de reducir la pobreza y la desigualdad.

The Social Observatory of ”la Caixa” invited researchers interested in disseminating their research work among a non-academic audience to submit their papers (published articles, preprint or working papers) dealing with the subject of immigration.

Stress, depression, insomnia, tension, feeling of uselessness… This article analyses how the mental health of workers was affected by the economic crisis and long-term unemployment.