Italy's care economy and welfare landscape

In Italy, the economic value of unpaid care provided by grandparents is estimated to save families approximately 12,518 euros per year. According to Assindatcolf, the national association of domestic employers, this figure represents the cost of hiring a regular babysitter to manage after-school care, including transportation and activities, for roughly 25 hours per week.

This invisible care economy exists alongside a complex landscape of approximately 800 active state subsidies and bonuses intended to support families, the elderly, and businesses. These measures include various incentives such as electric vehicle charging station rebates, rent assistance for separated parents, and utility discounts for low-income households. However, the proliferation of these diverse and often modest benefits has raised questions regarding their overall effectiveness and the potential for creating systemic distortions within the welfare system.