The Rise (and the fall?) of Universalism in the Italian Welfare State

The Italian welfare state has been a mix of different models of regulation. State Bismarckian in its pension and labour policies, Residual in its family, social care and social assistance policies and, since the ’60-’70 increasing universalistic in education and health care.

Both policy fields are characterized not only by the universalistic approach, but by also other characteristics: the relevant role and the traditional power of professionals (and their trade unions); the frequent and recurrent presence of reforms (almost any ten years).

The paper addresses the achievements and the shortcomings of universalism in these two last policy fields in the last quarter of a century, looking at attempts of reforms, the impact in terms of social inequalities and the capacity of these two policies to face new and old social demands.