Speakers:
- Dr Markus Kerber, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, Berlin
- Prof. Dr Arnstein Aassve, Professor in Demography at the Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management of Bocconi University in Milan
Resilience and social cohesion – these terms are frequently used to describe major societal challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that individuals are affected by the consequences of the crisis differently, and the mechanisms behind the increasing diversity – and inequality – are still not fully understood. Accordingly, the European countries also vary depending on their cultural and institutional settings and the rigidity of how they are organised. What works in one part of Europe (e.g. the youth guarantee, the German system of vocational training, the Nordic model of the welfare state), might perhaps not be applicable in another one, and a one-size-fits-all solution most likely does not exist. However, there is one constant feature: the role education plays in the level of resilience against the risks of social inequality, during a crisis, the life course, and even at old age. What are the demographic parameters which support – or might prevent – individuals from being better prepared for these challenges? And what role can policies play in that regard?
This event was originally held on Thursday, 10 December 2020.