In the mid-1990s, the identification of the main features of the South European model in Ferrera’s seminal work represented a key step in welfare studies. Extreme labor market segmentation, non-inclusive unemployment benefit systems, high institutional fragmentation and the dualistic character of income maintenance schemes – with generous programs (especially pensions) for workers in core economic sectors (insiders) and the lack of anti-poverty minimum income schemes for outsiders – as well as the prominent role of cash benefits vis à vis social services were all distinctive elements of the Southern model, which (still) significantly relied on the family as welfare provider. The typological effort also came with an explanation suggesting that the South European “syndrome” was the result of peculiar conditions, such as the prominence of political parties for social interest aggregation vs the atrophy of Southern Europe’s civil societies, and the presence of a “maximalist Left” combined with high ideological polarization in the party system.

The panel aims at assessing how, and to what extent, South European welfare systems have changed in the last two decades by comparing Italy and Spain, which were already “polar” cases – in terms of institutional configuration - within the cluster. It thus brings together political scientists and sociologists analyzing four key policy sectors: i) employment policies; ii) childcare; iii) minimum income; iv) pensions. These paired comparisons allow identifying divergent trajectories in the two countries which put into questions the persistence of the Southern model with respect to both policy developments and underpinning political dynamics.