Abstract

The great recession that began in 2007 has led to growing income inequality that hinders access to the upper echelons of the social space for those who initially find themselves at a disadvantage economically and culturally. To promote social mobility, targeted interventions in the field of economic policy would be a necessary first step, backed up by effective action in the world of education to try to ensure at least equal access to the highest levels of education. International surveys on education and competence levels confirm the existence of major inequality in terms of educational opportunity. In Italy too, families’ economic, cultural and social resources affect children’s ability to continue their studies and choose their upper secondary education pathways. This data paints a picture of a country that is almost static, one in which the education system seems devoted to reproducing the status quo.