Absolute poverty and the cost of living: an experimental analysis for italian households

Our paper contains an investigation on poverty based on the absolute approach. Actually, absolute poverty has not been totally eliminated, also in developed countries and particularly in Italy. Moreover, this method has poverty levels not depending on income distribution: on the contrary, specific situations of real need are identified. In doing so, different price levels are taken into account, emphasising the possible effects of different costs of living in various geographical areas; for Italy, this issue seems crucial, owing to dramatic economic gaps between Northern and Southern areas. Yet, there are few data available on this, so that only a pioneering study may be carried out. Therefore, we estimate absolute poverty thresholds both for regions and macro areas. General results show a partial narrowing in the geographical gap in favour of the South, with respect to traditional approaches. The analysis is performed using several indicators (i.e. head-count, poverty gap and Sen index). Moreover, income inequalities between regions could turn out to be less obvious by considering different cost of living indices than it is the case if the same level of prices is used. The analysis is based on static micro simulation models that make use of both consumption and income data from ISTAT and Bank of Italy surveys. Thus, several data sources are used: in fact, it is known that income, even though it seems more appropriate in evaluating resources to purchase goods and services, can be sensitive to unexpected and temporary shocks, whereas consumption represents a proxy of the so-called “permanent income”. Finally, some light is also shed on the measurement of the efforts of public policies aimed at poverty alleviation. To this end, it is possible to examine the impact of public taxes and transfers on wellbeing, with particular attention to the effects of a “minimum income” scheme allowing for the different price levels.Absolute poverty; Cost of living; Minimum income

Poverty and inequality dynamics in the enlarged Europe: a comparative analysis of determinants of households’ movements

The paper analyses the static and dynamic risk of poverty in the enlarged European Union. In the first part of the paper an overview of cross-sectional poverty rates in 25 European Member States (apart from Romania and Bulgaria) using several indexes is presented and assessed. In the second part, the dynamics of poverty is studied in a comparative fashion. Using longitudinal micro-level data from EU-SILC, we estimate the role of changes of several factors (e.g. employment status and hours worked, household structure, welfare cash benefits) in affecting the likelihood of falling into or leaving poverty. Our econometric analysis shows that employment status is an important factor affecting, in a significative way, transitions into and out of poverty in the European Union. Other life-course events examined and changes in welfare programs appear to been closely associated with poverty mobility, but for these factors significance and sign differ across countriesstatic and dynamic risk of poverty, European Union, welfare state

Bottom-Up Initiatives for Sustainable Mountain Development in Italy: An Interregional Explorative Survey

In recent years, citizen-led initiatives have emerged to complement top-down development policies, particularly to pursue sustainability objectives and benefit traditionally left-behind communities and places. Existing research on this phenomenon in Italian mountain areas suggests a primary emphasis on revitalizing the natural environment, preserving local culture and traditions, and delivering social services to address the absence of public facilities. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding their profiles, key features, social and environmental impacts, and challenges at the national level. As part of a broader research project, this empirical work contributes to the literature on bottom-up sustainability-oriented initiatives in mountain regions by conducting an explorative interregional online survey. We gathered original data on 196 initiatives from the mountain areas of the Italian regions of Basilicata, Lombardia, Marche, Sicilia, and Veneto. The findings indicate that our sample shares common traits, visions, and values, making a positive contribution to the sustainable development of their respective territories. However, these initiatives must contend with internal and external challenges to enhance their resilience and impact. Importantly, the research may support policymakers at various levels in the design of public policies that harness the full potential of bottom-up initiatives, ultimately enhancing the development and sustainability of these lands

L'anima della città attraverso lo sguardo degli homeless

This article aims to explore, using a qualitative approach, the relationship between ‘homelessness’ and ‘city’. The empirical work took place during 2016 in Verona, a middle-size town in Northern Italy and involved 13 participants with different profiles of housing deprivation. Our methodological approach gives ‘voice’ to homeless and involves them as active social actors in the fieldwork and in the data collection. We adopt participant-driven-photo-elicitation technique (PDPE). Participants received a mandate to describe the relationship with Verona city, using a disposable camera. Results suggest that the relational, symbolic, emotional and material aspects of the city emerge from the photos and from the words of the participants. Our research underlines the importance of place identity concept: it can be used as a framework for understanding homelessness in a wider perspective and for designing effective and innovative public policies

Le politiche familiari della Regione del Veneto: un\u2019analisi economica dell\u2019intervento del policy maker regionale nell\u2019ultimo decennio

This paper aims at monitoring and evaluating family policies in the Veneto Region, during a long period of time (2003-2013) in order to have an overview of regional welfare state approach. We analyse aims and social areas covered by family measures using legislative sources and financial data given by the Veneto Region. The total amount paid for different regional family policies is about 370 million Euros in eleven years. The paper presents also a focus on regional policies for childcare. The Region Veneto recognized childcare services as one\u2019s of the main measures for the work-life balance and equal opportunity. This macro area of family policies is the main recipient of regional funds, with over 270 million Euros, in total of grants and contributions during the period 2003-2013. The measures adopted by the Veneto Region have contributed to the opening of 600 new structures and to the growing of childcare services offered by private sector. In 2013, the Region Veneto partially subsidies the operating costs of about 24,000 places of childcare services (more than 50% offered by private structures)

Family Intertemporal Fiscal Incidence: A new Methodology for Assessing Public Policies

A correct assessment of public policies requires the analysis of deliberate and involuntary redistribution. Redistributive policies have an interpersonal as well as an intrapersonal dimension. To assess the latter, the entire lifetime of individuals and families has to be taken into consideration. Traditionally, redistribution is analysed with static tax-benefit microsimulation models or on stylised individuals/households. Such tools are inadequate to estimate intrapersonal redistribution. The paper proposes a new methodology for evaluating the lifetime incidence of budgetary policy on families. To do so, the definition of a “family unit” proposed by Ermish and Overton (1985) is used. By explicitly considering jointly all tax and spending programs, including in kind transfers and the supply of public services, the new methodology allows to estimate the overall redistribution of the public budget. Moreover, this approach provides an essential tool for examining in detail how the existing tax-benefit system influences the net fiscal position of different family kinds along their lifecycle. As a first application, the new methodology is applied to Italy to investigate lifetime public support to dependants. Empirical results show that public support is not negligible, representing on average 10 percent of family expenditures. However, support is mainly geared to “old” family types - characterised by an absence of major economic problems and by low female labour market participation. The second part of the research explores the hypothesis that the current low demographic scenario can be characterised by “demographic free-riding”. Conclusions are such that the free-riding hypothesis is accepted. However, the scenario resembles the “positive externality” case more than that of “pure public good”

Absolute poverty and the cost of living: an experimental analysis for italian households

Our paper contains an investigation on poverty based on the absolute approach. Actually, absolute poverty has not been totally eliminated, also in developed countries and particularly in Italy. Moreover, this method has poverty levels not depending on income distribution: on the contrary, specific situations of real need are identified. In doing so, different price levels are taken into account, emphasising the possible effects of different costs of living in various geographical areas; for Italy, this issue seems crucial, owing to dramatic economic gaps between Northern and Southern areas. Yet, there are few data available on this, so that only a pioneering study may be carried out. Therefore, we estimate absolute poverty thresholds both for regions and macro areas. General results show a partial narrowing in the geographical gap in favour of the South, with respect to traditional approaches. The analysis is performed using several indicators (i.e. head-count, poverty gap and Sen index). Moreover, income inequalities between regions could turn out to be less obvious by considering different cost of living indices than it is the case if the same level of prices is used. The analysis is based on static micro simulation models that make use of both consumption and income data from ISTAT and Bank of Italy surveys. Thus, several data sources are used: in fact, it is known that income, even though it seems more appropriate in evaluating resources to purchase goods and services, can be sensitive to unexpected and temporary shocks, whereas consumption represents a proxy of the so-called “permanent income”. Finally, some light is also shed on the measurement of the efforts of public policies aimed at poverty alleviation. To this end, it is possible to examine the impact of public taxes and transfers on wellbeing, with particular attention to the effects of a “minimum income” scheme allowing for the different price levels

Absolute poverty and the cost of living: an experimental analysis for italian households

Our paper contains an investigation on poverty based on the absolute approach. Actually, absolute poverty has not been totally eliminated, also in developed countries and particularly in Italy. Moreover, this method has poverty levels not depending on income distribution: on the contrary, specific situations of real need are identified. In doing so, different price levels are taken into account, emphasising the possible effects of different costs of living in various geographical areas; for Italy, this issue seems crucial, owing to dramatic economic gaps between Northern and Southern areas. Yet, there are few data available on this, so that only a pioneering study may be carried out. Therefore, we estimate absolute poverty thresholds both for regions and macro areas. General results show a partial narrowing in the geographical gap in favour of the South, with respect to traditional approaches. The analysis is performed using several indicators (i.e. head-count, poverty gap and Sen index). Moreover, income inequalities between regions could turn out to be less obvious by considering different cost of living indices than it is the case if the same level of prices is used. The analysis is based on static micro simulation models that make use of both consumption and income data from ISTAT and Bank of Italy surveys. Thus, several data sources are used: in fact, it is known that income, even though it seems more appropriate in evaluating resources to purchase goods and services, can be sensitive to unexpected and temporary shocks, whereas consumption represents a proxy of the so-called “permanent income”. Finally, some light is also shed on the measurement of the efforts of public policies aimed at poverty alleviation. To this end, it is possible to examine the impact of public taxes and transfers on wellbeing, with particular attention to the effects of a “minimum income” scheme allowing for the different price levels