The complex processes of rescaling responsibilities and competencies in social policies, particularly since the 1990s, have positioned local welfare systems as key players. At the same time, the ‘new social risks’ characteristic of post-Fordism have intensified the demand for services, requiring local governments to take on a more prominent role. During periods of economic crisis and austerity, local governments find themselves on the front lines, addressing increasingly widespread, severe, and diverse social needs. In this context of growing demands and shrinking resources, local settings often evolve into laboratories for social and institutional innovation.
Building on this framework, LPS conducts research on multi-level governance structures, the implementation of local welfare initiatives, and measures aimed at fostering social cohesion and combating inequalities.
Projects
- (E)WELFARE in the City. Spazi fisici e digitali per l’inclusione sociale nell’area metropolitana milanese
- COHSMO – Inequality, Urbanization and Territorial Cohesion: Developing the European Social Model of Economic Growth and Democratic Capacity
- WILCO – Welfare Innovations at the Local Level in Favour of Cohesion
- FLOWS – Impact of Local Welfare Systems on Female Labour Force Participation and Social Cohesion