This research area focuses on promoting sustainable and equitable economic growth by analyzing the well-being of Italian households. Using indicators, surveys, and data, it examines key aspects such as reducing income and gender inequality, fostering social mobility, and strengthening financial resilience.

The Covid-19 pandemic, followed by the war in Ukraine and ongoing environmental crises, has deeply affected health, employment, education, and living conditions. In this context, the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) provides valuable insights through its Equitable and Sustainable Well-Being Report (BES), which measures quality of life across twelve dimensions—from health and education to environment and services. Compared to the EU average, Italy shows critical gaps in education, youth employment, and gender equality, with persistently high NEET rates and low female participation in the labor market.

This thematic area addresses these challenges by developing socio-economic and financial vulnerability indicators, monitoring healthcare access, and studying inequalities across demographic and territorial groups. It also investigates the transition from school to work, the effects of crises and automation on labor polarization, and the role of informal work within households.

A central focus is financial resilience: analyzing how households respond to economic, health, and environmental shocks, and how welfare policies, taxation, and labor market dynamics mitigate risks. Research also emphasizes the importance of credit, insurance, and financial education in strengthening household stability and long-term sustainability.