IPA report reveals a grim picture! Youth purchasing power has dropped dramatically in 20 years

The report titled "Demographic and Socioeconomic Profile of Youth in Istanbul: 20-Year Change," prepared by the Istanbul Planning Agency, has revealed that young people are experiencing serious setbacks in their economic and social lives. The report emphasizes that the purchasing power of young people has decreased significantly, the housing crisis has deepened, and participation in social life has become restricted.

In particular, the decline in the real value of KYK scholarships stands out as one of the most striking indicators of the deterioration in the economic situation of young people. While 275 simits could be purchased with a KYK scholarship in 2005, this number has fallen to 43 today. This situation clearly demonstrates the economic difficulties in the daily lives of young people.

The housing problem has also become one of the major issues faced by young people. While housing was a matter of preference 20 years ago, it has turned into a serious crisis today that pushes young people to the outskirts of the city. The disruption of healthy eating habits and the difficulty in accessing quality protein sources are increasing the health concerns of young people.

Economic difficulties also limit the participation of young people in social life. According to the report, half of the young people are considering moving abroad. This rate, which was 35.1 percent among those who were young 20 years ago, has risen to 50.4 percent today. Furthermore, 77.6 percent of participants state that today's youth live in more difficult conditions compared to previous generations. In the 18-35 age group, this rate rises to 80.6 percent.

The report, which states that a university diploma no longer guarantees a transition to employment, points out that one in every four young people between the ages of 15 and 29 is neither in education nor in employment. The dream of getting married and establishing a home is also becoming increasingly difficult for young people. While 62 percent of those who were young twenty years ago stated that they had difficulty in this regard, this rate has risen to 81.8 percent among today's youth. The proportion of young people who say that moving out on their own is financially challenging was announced as 78.8 percent.

News Source: 12punto