Suchergebnisse

L'articolo discute la diffusione dell'in-work poverty (IWP) nei paesi europei, mostrandone le caratteristiche principali da un punto di vista comparativo. Innanzitutto presentiamo i diversi approcci alla definizione del problema negli Stati Uniti e in Europa, distinguendo l'interazione tra famiglia, mercato del lavoro e politiche di welfare. Nella terza sezione, vengono analizzati i tassi di IWP e dei lavoratori a basso salario, mentre nella quarta sezione presentiamo le principali caratteristiche di IWP confrontando i paesi europei. Il risultato principale della nostra analisi è che i classici cluster di regimi di welfare possono spiegare solo parzialmente la quota e le caratteristiche dell'IWP nell'UE.

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.

The article tackles the characteristics of social work in Italy, focusing on some specific features of this professional domain within the broader frame of the Italian welfare system. Indeed, given the historical roots of Italian welfare regime and the model of governance of policies, social assistance benefits and services are the less developed component of welfare provisions. This is one of the reasons for the late full acknowledgement and regulation of the social worker at the national level. In the first part of the article, we present the development of social work in Italy, with particular attention to the creation of academic courses and the formal regulation as a profession. Then we present the current situation of social work and social workers in Italy, taking into consideration the weakness of social assistance and the effects of the financial crisis. In fact, the crises had an impact on the dimensions and composition of vulnerable population, which is more and more large and fragmented, putting a growing pressure on social workers. At the same time, because fiscal austerity, resources for welfare benefits have been reduced in these years, changing the organizational settings and worsening the working conditions of social workers.