Életesélyeket

Életesélyeket is a Hungarian term that translates roughly to "life chances" or "real opportunities" in English. It refers to the chances individuals or groups have to achieve a satisfactory, dignified life, given their circumstances and the policy environment. The form életesélyeket is the accusative plural, used when the opportunities are the object of action in a sentence.

In social science, életesélyek describe potential outcomes across key life domains such as education, health, income, housing, and social participation. They are understood as influenced by structural factors—family background, geographic location, ethnicity, gender—as well as by public policies and economic conditions. The concept emphasizes opportunities and trajectories rather than solely end results, focusing on the conditions that enable or hinder progress.

Measurement of életesélyek relies on multiple indicators, including educational attainment, employment status, income or wealth, health status, access to housing and services, and social inclusion. Because life chances reflect both individual choices and structural constraints, researchers analyze disparities across groups and over time to assess inequality and mobility.

Policy relevance centers on expanding életesélyek through targeted interventions such as early childhood education, inclusive schooling, affordable housing, universal or accessible healthcare, and active labor market programs. In Hungary, discussions about életesélyek often appear in debates on social cohesion, regional disparities, and youth unemployment, as well as in broader European contexts aimed at promoting inclusive growth.

See also: life chances, social inequality, social mobility, public policy, Hungary.