Abstract

As well known, Italy is a clear example of the so-called Southern European welfare model, in which the long term care needs of dependent elderly people are mainly covered by family and intergenerational solidarities, while public support is mainly delivered through cash transfers. Considering such structural traits, the article focuses on the role played by the territorial system of multilevel governance in determining them. In particular a sort of vicious layering seems to affect negatively the allocation of functions and responsibilities among the different territorial levels of government. Such a condition stimulates «cost-shifting» dynamics which sustain the reproduction of the critical features characterizing the long term care system in the Italian case.