Social and Labour Market Policies

The course aims to analyze the evolution of the Italian welfare state in a comparative perspective, with a particular attention both to recently adopted reforms - aimed at tackling demographic, socio-economic and politico-institutional challenges - and to future prospects. To this end, after introducing some basic concepts and notions on social policies, the course outlines - in a comparative perspective - the historical evolution of welfare systems and the major features of the Italian welfare model are illustrated. The comparative exploration of the Italian case is then developed and three social policy sectors are investigated more in depth: pension, health care and social assistance policies, their origins and contemporary reforms associated with accountability. The focus will be placed on the challenges addressed by policy-makers and on recent reforms, with particular attention to identify the major political dynamics and the role of social and political actors in the "recalibration" processes of the national welfare system. The course examines also the ongoing transformations of the Italian social protection system in the light of the "second welfare" perspective by taking into consideration the role played by non-public actors in the following areas: corporate, occupational, and territorial welfare. Finally, the course aims to analyze the challenges posed by the integration process to national welfare systems and the growing role played by European institutions in the social sphere.

At the end of the course, students will be able to describe the configuration and evolution of the Italian welfare system in a comparative perspective and to identify, for the policy areas covered (pensions, health care, social assistance, company-based welfare and EU social policy), which are the main socio-demographic and economic challenges and the lines of reform undertaken by Italy in the past and especially in the last decade. Moreover, students will be able to use the acquired knowledge to frame critically the current policy choices, linked to the functioning of the Italian social protection system, even if these have not been directly addressed during the lessons.