Poverty in Italy : Features and Drivers in a European Perspective

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.

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.