This year, the Youth Research Institute (YRI) once again participated in MCC’s three-day festival in Esztergom. Many visitors showed interest in our tent located on the EDU promenade, viewing our publications, taking quizzes and playing games to win various prizes. Our colleagues also participated in several panel discussions and professional programs at the festival.

In a panel titled ”Is There a Way Out of The Parents’ Basement”, YRI Director Levente Székely discussed the topic of young people’s home creation opportunities with guests Dóra Erdélyi (Senior Analyst at the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation); Anna Lakó (Director of Foreign Affairs at Fidelitas); Viktória Pató (Senior Expert at the Hungarian Development Promotion Office) and Péter Szász (HR Director of the Market Group). The experts agreed that starting out in life independently costs more for today’s youth than it did for their parents. Statistics show that young people are staying at home longer, even though owning their own remains a top goal for most. But how realistic is this goal? Recent research by the Youth Research Institute presents the following picture:

  • 15% of 15–29-year-olds own property;
  • For those over 25, this figure rises to 27%;
  • 80–90% of young people consider home ownership important;
  • Every second young person sees it as achievable within 10 years.

The research also shows that tying housing subsidies to having children, as in the case of the CSOK loans, divides young people. A new element in family policy, however, offers up to HUF 50 million for all first-time homebuyers with just a 10% down payment and 3% interest for the entire term. This targets young people who—for now—do not plan to start a family.

Another panel discussion focused on content creation and young people's media consumption habits, featuring insights from Levente Székely (Director, YRI); Ádám Guld (media, researcher, university lecturer); Gergő Karap (lawyer, psychologist, forensic expert); István Kovács (adult film producer-director) and Anikó Molnár (content creator).

Demographic issues, childbirth, and the future of families were discussed by Georgina Kiss-Kozma (YRI Deputy Director); Zsófia Nagy-Vargha (Deputy State Secretary for Youth); Anna Nagy (Single Parents Club Foundation); Kata Kardosné Gyurkó (Ministerial Commissioner, Ministry of Culture and Innovation) and Judit Regős (Parents’ House Foundation).

Georgina Kiss-Kozma also participated in a panel discussion on youth and politics, where topics included new forms of rebellion, the effects of online political activity, and young people's political attitudes. Other participants included Marrissa Streit (CEO, PragerU); Jennie Bristow (Sociology Professor, Canterbury Christ Church University); Rebecca Mistereggen (Journalist, Document Media); Paul Rougeron (Political Analyst, MCC Brussels); Jacob Reynolds (Policy Lead, MCC Brussels).

In a panel on intergenerational dialogue and transgenerational challenges, Levente Székely (YRI Director) and Bea Bibók (psychologist, sexologist, author) shared their thoughts. The discussion was moderated by Georgina Kiss-Kozma (YRI Deputy Director).

Georgina Kiss-Kozma participated in two additional professional events at this year’s;  MCC Feszt: As a jury member at the closing event of the MCC KP Academia Scholarship Program, where exceptionally talented young people presented their research results;

and in a closed-to-the-public background discussion about the film Family First with philosopher and author Michael Severance, where the deeper contexts of the demographic crisis was explored.

Ákos Pöltl (YRI family security expert) and Melinda Hal (clinical psychologist, lead researcher at the Learning Research Institute) discussed topics such as smartphone use, screen addiction and digital fasting. The discussion was moderated by János Setényi (Director, Learning Research Institute).

 

Thank you for everyone who visited our tent and attended our panel discussions!

See you again next year!