Well-Being and Inequalities in Italy

The seventh edition of the Forum on Well-being, organised by the OECD in Rome in collaboration with ISTAT and MEF, is the occasion for the publication of a web-publishing “Well-being and inequalities in Italy” product that, based on the equitable and sustainable well-being (Bes) project, provides an insight into inequalities between men and women, between generations, between territories and between population groups with different levels of education, using an approach that also takes into account the combination of several characteristics in order to identify the groups that are most disadvantaged in terms of well-being in the different life spheres.

The analysis of the Bes indicators in Italy reveals a complex and articulated picture of inequalities, with significant differences among regions, between men and women, and between population groups with different levels of education and different age groups.

Northern regions tend to have better well-being indicators than the national average, while the South still shows marked disadvantages, particularly in the areas of work and social relations. In terms of gender inequality, considerable progress has been made in the educational and cultural spheres for women: one in three young women aged 25-34 has a university degree, compared with one in four men, and women’s educational careers are characterised by better results, fewer early school leavers and higher qualifications. Nevertheless, women continue to be penalised in the labour market, with a persistent gap in employment rates (56.5 per cent compared to 76 per cent for men), in political representation at the top of institutions and in economic conditions. However, the increased investment in women’s education is a factor that may reduce this gap in the future, especially if it is accompanied by a parallel expansion of opportunities and tools to support work-life balance.

Browse the web publication (in italian only)

Download the pdf version