Poverty and Social Exclusion of Children and Families in Italy and Europe: Some Comparisons

Abstract

Poverty has been a growing phenomenon in Italy over the last year. In particular, the percentage of children up to 6 years at risk of poverty or social exclusion (31.9 % in 2012) is significantly higher than both the corresponding average rate in the EU and the rate among the overall Italian population. The share of social protection expenditure for children and families in Italy (4.6 % in 2010) is however lower than the average across European countries (8 %). As a percentage of GDP, the expenditure for children and families was 1.3 % (0.7 % in cash and 0.6 % in kind) in Italy, compared to 2.3 % (1.5 % in cash and 0.8 % in kind) on average in Europe. Yet adequate investments in early childhood education and child care services, distinct from cash benefits, would exhibit a great potential for reducing child poverty, as it is shown across OECD countries. This chapter aims to compare Italy with other (notably European) countries in relation to the extent of poverty and the level of expenditure on social protection, particularly regarding children and families. It also presents a transnational experience highlighting “practices” aimed at the alleviation of child poverty and social exclusion.