Introduction

Abstract

The essay introduces to the main contents of the book, providing a general overview on the most important so called "reforms" adopted in Europe in order to face the economic and financial crisis. The study is aimed in evaluating the impact of these reforms on democratic institutions and the functioning of public administrations, following three topics: (a) the impact on the administrative system; (b) the impact on the level of legal guarantee of social rights; (c) the impact on the traditional instruments of administrative action.