Suchergebnisse

This book explores the dimensions and characteristics of social vulnerability in Western Europe. As the literature on 'new social risks' grows, there is an increasing need for analysis which shows the actual diffusion and intensity of such risks. This volume examines income level, housing conditions, employment, the provision of care for children and dependent persons, family organisation and difficulties arising in the transition to adulthood. It concerns individuals who are permanently exposed to instability and weak integration into society. Providing a comparative analysis, the book identifies the different profiles of vulnerability that exist in a number of different 'macro-regions' which make up Western Europe.

European cities are historically characterised by a strong association between social cohesion and competitiveness. However, in recent years, this stability has been affected by strains induced by rising new inequalities and increasing competition among cities. These facts have raised the need for a new understanding of the relationship between cohesion and competitiveness. This paper draws on a selection of social and economic indicators to explore this multifaceted relationship in 50 European cities, selected on the basis of their size and international role. The aims of the analysis are to assess the position of each European city, to identify clusters of cities and to suggest an interpretative hypothesis in order to characterise the particularities of this relationship in European cities.