Policy Press

Poverty in Italy

Features and Drivers in a European Perspective

By Chiara Saraceno, David Benassi and Enrica Morlicchio

Published

Sep 2, 2020

Page count

206 pages

ISBN

978-1447352211

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 2, 2020

Page count

206 pages

ISBN

978-1447352235

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 2, 2020

Page count

206 pages

ISBN

978-1447352235

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Poverty in Italy

Three experienced Italian sociologists explore the structural and cultural dimensions of poverty in their country. Comparing Italy’s regime with other European countries, they consider the interplay of conditions in the labour market, the family and welfare arrangements as causes of poverty.

This in-depth analysis explores how forced familialism, unbalanced gender arrangements, territorial cleavages and sluggish growth have rendered Italy vulnerable to financial crisis. As old risks of poverty have worsened, new risks have emerged and children, the working poor and migrants have become the ‘new poor’.

Combining theoretical and empirical tools, this is a topical fresh take on the understanding of poverty in Italy that is even more crucial considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A crucial contribution that provides the analytical toolbox to understand how poverty is produced and reproduced in Italy and beyond.” Yuri Kazepov, University of Vienna

"This masterly exploration of the Italian poverty regime is a precious contribution to understanding poverty beyond the Italian case with preliminary reflections on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis." Enzo Mingione, University of Milan Bicocca.

"Policies to combat COVID-19 have affected Italian society in an unprecedented unequal way. The insights in this book show the way to close the big emotional, social and economic cracks.” Bea Cantillon, University of Antwerp

"It is consequently highly recommended reading for all scholars concerned with how economic and social mechanisms contribute to poverty formation in Italy and elsewhere." Journal of Social Policy

Chiara Saraceno, former Professor at the University of Turin and at the Institute for Social Research in Berlin, is presently Honorary Fellow at the Collegio Carlo Alberto, Turin.

David Benassi is Associate Professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca and Director of the Planning and Management of Social Policies and Services masters programme.

Enrica Morlicchio is Full Professor of Economic Sociology at the Federico II University of Naples. She is editor of the Journal Sociologia del Lavoro.

A Regime Approach

Poverty Regimes and the Great Recession

The Historical Roots of the Italian Poverty Regime

Long-term Trends Since the Early 1990s

Working Poor, Children and Migrants: Italy’s ‘New Poor’

Urban Poverty in Italy

A Late- and Uncertain Comer in Developing Anti-poverty Policies

Continuities and Changes in the Italian Poverty Regime