Nest Leaving in Europe

he nest leaving period and the age at which individuals establish their own independent household are of primary policy concern since they are critically linked to many economic and social outcomes. The choices made by young adults are numerous: further education, marriage, parenthood, first job. All are interrelated and can be linked to another choice, that of a first independent home. Youth labour supply and educational choices will determine the length of the career, pension and life-time consumption. Billari and Tabellini (2008) show that Italians who leave the parental home earlier in life earn a higher income in their mid 30s. This might be due either to the fact that they tend to have longer working experience or to a negative impact of prolonged co-residence on ambitions and motivations for children who leave late (Alessie et al. 2006). The demographic transition and population evolution are largely linked to the timing of first parenthood. Health in later life and life expectancy are linked to the education level.