WLFARE CHANGES IN ITALY AND SOCIAL WLFARE CHANGES IN ITALY AND SOCIAL ECONOMY AS A WAY FOR DEVELOPING ECONOMY AS A WAY FOR DEVELOPING

SOCIAL INCLUSIONSOCIAL INCLUSION

Vincenzo FortunatoVincenzo FortunatoDepartment of Sociology and Political ScienceDepartment of Sociology and Political ScienceUniversity of CalabriaUniversity of CalabriaItalyItaly

Restructuring the welfare Restructuring the welfare systems in Europesystems in Europe

Crisis of the welfare stateCrisis of the welfare state

• WorkWorkEnd of full-time employmentEnd of full-time employmentNeed for a new systems of social security (pension schemes)Need for a new systems of social security (pension schemes)Financial crisesFinancial crises

• FamilyFamilyGender based division of labourGender based division of labourDifferent balance between paid work ond care workDifferent balance between paid work ond care workStronger citizenship of womenStronger citizenship of women

• Individualization processIndividualization process

Social priorities and new public Social priorities and new public agendaagenda

• New poorsNew poors

• Social exclusion related to changes Social exclusion related to changes within family structure and work within family structure and work flexible organizationflexible organization

• New forms of juvenile discomfortNew forms of juvenile discomfort

• Problems related to increased Problems related to increased migrationsmigrations

• New social risksNew social risks

The Italian experienceThe Italian experience

Shift from welfare state to welfare mixShift from welfare state to welfare mix

State

Market

Third sectorNGOs

Families Community

The national law n.328/2000The national law n.328/2000

• Decision makers (mix)Decision makers (mix)StateStateNon-profit organizationsNon-profit organizations

• TargetsTargetsIndividualsIndividualsFamiliesFamiliesCommunitiesCommunities

• How to workHow to workNew rules based on the criteria of “subsidiarity” New rules based on the criteria of “subsidiarity” Co-definition of social interventions at local levelCo-definition of social interventions at local levelEvaluation proceduresEvaluation proceduresLocal plans (Local plans (piani di zonapiani di zona) for macro-areas starting from their ) for macro-areas starting from their

needsneeds

The “negotiation model”The “negotiation model”

The mix (public and private organizations) is characterized byThe mix (public and private organizations) is characterized by::

1.1. Reduced financial efforts of the StateReduced financial efforts of the State2.2. Gradual decrease in direct State interventionGradual decrease in direct State intervention3.3. Significant increase the quantity/quality of tasks Significant increase the quantity/quality of tasks

allocated to private social field (social economy)allocated to private social field (social economy)4.4. Formalization of non-profit organizations and Formalization of non-profit organizations and

“professionalization” of people involved “professionalization” of people involved 5.5. Growth in the number of NGOs and people Growth in the number of NGOs and people

employed within social economy employed within social economy 6.6. From government to governance From government to governance

What do we mean by social What do we mean by social economy? Same subjects more economy? Same subjects more definitionsdefinitions

• Non-profit sectorNon-profit sector

• Private non-governmental sectorPrivate non-governmental sector

• Voluntary sectorVoluntary sector

• Independent sectorIndependent sector

• Philanthropic sectorPhilanthropic sector

• Third sector/ social private fieldThird sector/ social private field

• Social economySocial economy or or Economie socialEconomie social

Why do we need Social Why do we need Social economy?economy?

Modern – post industrial societies have to cope with problems Modern – post industrial societies have to cope with problems related to the lack of “relations”related to the lack of “relations”

Need for “relational goods” that may only be “produced” by Need for “relational goods” that may only be “produced” by ad hocad hoc organizations different from the State and form the organizations different from the State and form the

marketmarket

Non profit organizations which are deeply “rooted” within local Non profit organizations which are deeply “rooted” within local communities and know people needscommunities and know people needs

Balance between “Identity” and “organization”Balance between “Identity” and “organization”

What kind of organizations?What kind of organizations?

• Charity/voluntary organizationsCharity/voluntary organizations

• Social organizationsSocial organizations

• Social cooperatives/ social Social cooperatives/ social enterprisesenterprises

• NGOsNGOs

• FoundationsFoundations

Table 1: Non-profit organisations in Italy - year 2003

InstitutionsPaid employment Voluntee

rs

Social associations (cultural, recreational, sports

associations)202,061 281,099 3,039,088

Social co-operatives 6,952 196,067 15,934

Foundations 3,088 56,145 65,432

Charity organisations* 26,403 43,600 968,000

NGOs 170 – 1,526

Committees 3,832 1,813 39,224

Other typologies 7,861 146,571 94,009

Total 250,367 725,295 4,223,213

* Some charity organisations are included among social associations.Source: Istat (2005)

Table 2: composition and employment of Italian non-profit organisations – year 2003

ActivitiesInstitutions Paid employment Volunteers

N. % N. % N. %

Culture and arts 38,368 19.0 19,411 6.9 460,712 15.2

Sports 56,044 27.7 20,458 7.3 559,352 18.4

Recreation and socialisation 40,557 20.1 10,936 3.9 599,176 19.7

Education and research 8,307 4.1 50,427 17.9 59,670 2.0

Health 8,821 4.4 37,410 13.3 311,908 10.3

Social services 14,648 7.2 58,867 20.9 466,190 15.3

Environment 3,012 1.5 1,816 0.6 82,972 2.7

Economic development and social cohesion 3,244 1.6 12,400 4.4 29,540 1.0

Advocacy 6,532 3.2 11,480 4.1 206,459 6.8

Philanthropy 1,015 0.5 340 0.1 44,347 1.5

Co-operation and international solidarity 1,265 0.6 993 0.4 31,565 1.0

Religion 3,847 1.9 2,632 0.9 114,290 3.8

Business and professional 15,471 7.7 51,989 18.5 64,190 2.1

Other activities 929 0.5 1,940 0.7 8,717 0.3

Total 202,061 100.0 281,099 100.0 3,039,088 100.0

Key role of families’ and Key role of families’ and friends’ associationsfriends’ associations

• Families give assistance to about 76% Families give assistance to about 76% of not self sufficient elderly people or of not self sufficient elderly people or disabled (for an amount 75 billion Euros)disabled (for an amount 75 billion Euros)

• Grandparents look after 50% of children Grandparents look after 50% of children up to 2 yearsup to 2 years

• 40% of children up to 14 years40% of children up to 14 years

Social work and social Social work and social economy:economy:professionals or volunteersprofessionals or volunteers??

• 725,295 paid workers of whom 60% are 725,295 paid workers of whom 60% are womenwomen

• 37,7 have a diploma37,7 have a diploma

• 16,5% have a university degree16,5% have a university degree

• 19,5 hold a professional19,5 hold a professional qualificationqualification

Public or private: strengths and Public or private: strengths and weaknessesweaknesses • PublicPublic- Defined working time- Defined working time- Higher salary- Higher salary- Long life employment – pension- Long life employment – pension

• PrivatePrivate- Motivation- Motivation- Working conditions/friendly environment/ lower control - Working conditions/friendly environment/ lower control

/involvement/involvement- Personal satisfaction- Personal satisfaction- Flexible working time that allows people to combine family - Flexible working time that allows people to combine family

needs and work expectationsneeds and work expectations- Facility of access and exit (mobility)- Facility of access and exit (mobility)

ConclusionsConclusions- Italy as a caring society based on family and private non profit Italy as a caring society based on family and private non profit

organizations that directly provide social servicesorganizations that directly provide social services

- Decentralization: the new law 328/2000 moved from government to Decentralization: the new law 328/2000 moved from government to governancegovernance

- community oriented approach: from individuals to communitiescommunity oriented approach: from individuals to communities

- Significant growth of social economy in terms of organizations, - Significant growth of social economy in terms of organizations, responsibilities, financial resources, employment, outcomesresponsibilities, financial resources, employment, outcomes

- Peculiarity of non-profit organizations that show a better balance between - Peculiarity of non-profit organizations that show a better balance between both dimensions: solidarity (or identity) and service (or organization)both dimensions: solidarity (or identity) and service (or organization)

- Greater orientation towards listening to the service users and their Greater orientation towards listening to the service users and their involvement as opposed to private market organizationsinvolvement as opposed to private market organizations

- Challenges and opportunities for social workers within social economyChallenges and opportunities for social workers within social economy