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The main aim of the report is to give a general picture of the present condition of welfare in Italy, also extended to its relationship with the economic recession. However, he analysis is focused on several sectors, even though really important, which are health, social assistance, social housing. It is also focused on specific cases regarding some policies in the field of education, work and social security (i.e. aid for students with disabilities and family benefits). This choice is due primarily to the will to leave out of the study most of the education and work sector (including social security, strictly related to the work policies), which are generally regulated and managed on the basis of their own particular needs. The final goal of the report is to try to answer the following questions arising from the existing legal framework: - is there a general trend to reduce social welfare entitlements? If so, is such a trend conditioned, to any extent, by ex ante planning (policies) or it is only driven by emergency reasons? What is the role played by fiscal federalism and the constitutional reform regarding the budget balance? - Are public authorities reducing their participation in granting social services and rights? - What is the relationship between the above mentioned trend and the economic recession? Did such a trend start before the financial crisis? - What are the role and limits of the administrative discretion in distributing benefits and/or services with the aim of granting social rights? What is the relationship between this discretion and the bureaucratic rules in the implementation of the welfare policies? Are the two models opposed to each other? What is, if existing, the extent and quality of citizens participation in the administrative decision-making process about their entitlements? Can the above mentioned models and participation affect the approach of the courts when considering the challengers of rights bearers? - Why in Italy is there not a general Welfare Agenda such as that existing in the UK?

It is examined the relationship between State failures and the role of the market in healthcare at the time of the economic recession, considering both a national and international perspective, and considering, moreover, the perspective of competition between stakeholders in the same healthcare system, but also of competition between healthcare systems.