Exploring the public attitude towards social protection policies in Italy

This thesis delves into the intricate dynamics of welfare attitudes in Italy, offering a comprehensive analysis that uncovers the underlying factors shaping public opinion on social protection programmes. Drawing on established theories such as deservingness principles and neoliberal ideology, the study unveils nuanced correlations between individual beliefs, societal factors, and welfare attitudes. Significant gender disparities emerge, with women exhibiting stronger support for welfare expansion and social economy beliefs, indicative of evolving societal roles and needs. These findings underscore the importance of gender-sensitive welfare policies and strategies to address systemic inequalities, offering valuable insights for policymakers. Furthermore, the research highlights the pivotal role of poverty attribution in predicting welfare attitudes. It illuminates the contrast between attributing poverty to individual failings versus structural factors, revealing that attributing poverty to external factors predicts higher levels of support for welfare policies. Moreover, as expected, endorsing views of a social economy emerges as a significant factor in shaping public opinion on welfare policies. Overall, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of welfare attitudes in Italy, paving the way for more informed and inclusive policy interventions to address societal challenges and promote equitable social development. Future research should address the identified limitations and further explore these relationships to inform more effective welfare policy development.