Mediterranean Welfare and Constitutional Tensions: Family, Territorial Disparities, and Anti-Poverty Measures in Light of Demographic Dynamics

Abstract

This essay examines the evolution of Italian welfare within the Mediterranean model and the broader European context, addressing the tension between substantive equality and the actual implementation of anti‑poverty policies. Through a legal-institutional analysis supported by demographic and statistical-geographical evidence, it assesses the measures adopted, with particular attention to the Reddito di cittadinanza and the Assegno di inclusione, highlighting their persistent inadequacy, especially with respect to large families and Southern regions. The study shows how underfunding, structural deficiencies, categorical fragmentation, and fiscal‑neutrality constraints in determining essential service levels perpetuate the gap between proclaimed rights and effective protection, thereby undermining the Constitution’s transformative function.