Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said young people feel "no one is listening to them", linking recent youth riots in Paris, Milan and other European cities to frustration about their future.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the former head of the European Central Bank called it "a case of blocked expectations".
According to him, for the young people, social justice means fairness between generations, which is difficult to maintain without economic growth.
He said many feel they cannot find work easily.
He added that they see society changing rapidly through technology and "feel unprepared to deal with it."