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Around 55 per cent of people aged 18-34 in Spain still sleep in their parents' homes, says the latest report from the country's state-run Institute of Youth．
To persuade young people to leave their homes, the institute started a “Youth Independence” programme this month．The programme offers guidance in finding rooms and jobs．
Economists blame young people's family dependence on the unstable labour market and increasing housing prices．Housing prices have risen 17 per cent a year since 2000．
Cultural reasons also contribute to the problem, say sociologists．Family ties in south Europe－Italy, Portugal and Greece－are stronger than those in middle and north Europe, said Spanish sociologist Almudena Minguez in her report “The Late Independence of Spanish Youth：Keys for Understanding”．
“In general, young people in Spain firmly believe in the family as the main body around which their private life is organized,” said Minguez．In Spain, especially in the countryside, it is not uncommon to find entire groups of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews all living on the same street．They regularly get together for Sunday dinner．
Parents' tolerance is another reason．Spanish parents accept late-night partying and are wary of setting bedtime rules．“A child can arrive home at whatever time he wants．If parents complain he'll put up a big fight and call the father a Fascist,” said Minguez．
Mothers' willingness to do children's house hold chores(杂务)worsens the problem．Dionisio Masso a 60-year-old in Madrid, has three children in their 20s．The eldest, 28, has a girlfriend and a job．But life with mum is good．“His mum does the wash and cooks for him; in the end, he lives well,” Masso said．
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