The LaST survey probed Italians' perception of their changing economic conditions. In general, a polarisation process emerges between those who have been able to maintain - if not improve - their standard of living; and those who, on the other hand, have seen their situation progressively worsen. At the same time, this polarisation tends to cut across social groups, disarticulating them internally. Thus, for example, not all pensioners or workers have experienced a worsening of their situation; and, conversely, not all entrepreneurs or managers have experienced an improvement. And, moreover, with non-marginal measures.
Over the past five years, 31.4% have kept their economic conditions substantially intact and 10.7% have increased or markedly improved them. Conversely, as many as 43.3% have experienced a worsening and 14.6% even a marked deterioration. In this regard, it is interesting to analyse the different breakdowns of the respondents, which are useful to better delineate the different conditions. In the area of those who declare a more or less net economic improvement (10.7%), compared to before the crisis, we find the male component, those between 55 and 64 years of age, residing in the North of the country and particularly in the North West, and those who have a university degree in their pockets, more strongly represented. It is worth emphasising that in this group of the population not only entrepreneurs are represented - as would be easy to expect - but we also find a proportion of manual workers (specialised labourers), pensioners and housewives. Figures, the latter, often all equated with the most helpless.
A reflection of this segmentation of conditions can be observed by analysing those who managed to preserve their economic conditions (31.4%). Once again, the younger generation (up to 34 years of age), those living in the North and especially in the North East and, once again, those with a university degree are more likely to be male. Workers belonging to the middle class (managers, technicians, white-collar workers) and pensioners are particularly in this situation. Those with professional skills to spend on the market and pensioners who have been able to accumulate adequate resources over time seem to be able to preserve their economic conditions better than others.
The prevailing share among the respondents (43.3%) states that their economic situation has worsened compared to five years ago. This is mainly the case for women, the younger generation (under 24 years), those living in the Centre and especially in the South, and those who have only compulsory schooling or at most a diploma. Manual workers and housewives seem to be the categories most affected by this situation.
Those who, on the other hand, see their condition clearly worsening (14.6%) constitute a minority share, but certainly not a marginal one. In this case, and once again, we find the female component more represented, workers aged 50 (45-54) and over 65, those living in the Centre-South, especially the unemployed, but also pensioners and entrepreneurs, those with only compulsory education or a diploma.
As before, the social profiles of the respondents are articulated and polarised within themselves. Certainly, being a woman, from the Centre-South, and above all unemployed, constitute the main ingredients for knowing a worsening of one's economic condition. But no univocal and homogeneous image emerges in relation to socio-professional condition.
