Generations, education and common values: a study on five italian cohort-generations, from the reconstruction to gen z

This study investigates the changing values across generations and the emerging configurations of values among them, with a focus on the role of education. The literature reveals a gap in the debate regarding value changes between generations (Lyons et al., 2005; 2007). To address this gap, S. H. Schwartz’s theory of Basic Human Values was employed, along with data from the European Social Survey (2016-2020), extracting the Italian sample. The objective is to assess whether values serve as a useful criterion for distinguishing generations, especially those closer in time, and to contribute to filling the existing gaps. This could prove valuable for studying the behaviour, beliefs, and relationships between older and newer generations, as well as for understanding the specificities of these generations within a comparative framework.