Birthrate Decline and Key Policy Responses in Italy

Abstract

Italy has been affected for a long time by a fertility decline. Whilst lower fertility rates were initially more prominent in northern and central regions, the trend has inversed in the past twenty years and currently central and southern regions show the lowest fertility levels. This article observes that main factors behind low fertility are found in structural constraints of the labour market and in underdeveloped social investment policies. The article further describes recent policies to counteract low fertility in Italy. Also due to a prolonged austerity policy implemented from the 1990s due to pressures from the European Union, welfare politics in Italy does not seem to actively pursue a pro-natalist and social investment oriented agenda of social policy reforms.