L'andatura del gambero delle politiche di reddito minimo in Italia

The Crab’s Path: The Evolution and Reversal of Minimum Income Policies in Italy Italy has long been an anomaly in European poverty policies, historically resisting selective universalism and maintaining a fragmented welfare model. The late introduction of a national minimum income scheme with the Reddito di inclusione (2018) and the Reddito di cittadinanza (2019) marked a historic shift towards a more inclusive approach. However, this progress was short-lived, as the government repealed the Rdc in 2023, replacing it with the Assegno di inclusione, a categorical scheme reducing coverage and reintroducing selectivity. This article analyzes the socio-political and institutional factors behind Italy’s delayed adoption of minimum income policies, the temporary departure from path dependency, and the rapid regression. It highlights how political polarization, cultural resistance, and institutional inertia have shaped an inconsistent trajectory, contrasting with the broader European trend toward universalistic welfare models.