Inequalities have been rising over several decades in s Europe in spite of increased levels of welfare and public spending as a proportion of GDP. Growing inequality is a threat to economic growth, democracy and equal opportunities for future generations. Social disadvantages and precariousness are to a large extent inherited whereby low educational attainment of both parents and children play a key role. There is ample evidence that children from less privileged social backgrounds trail behind in access and uptake of education. Often disadvantages such as low-skilled parents, mono-parental families, limited access to social services (e.g. health and housing), and cultural resources, and being from a migration background, cumulate. The challenge is to reverse this trend and to enhance upward social mobility by significantly improving access and uptake of education in Europe, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Priority areas:

• Socio-economic science and humanities
• Gender

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