Abstract
The article presents an empirical analysis of the Italian Youth Guarantee (YG) based on the approach of the new policy design. After having reviewed the most recent literature concerning this analytical approach, it examines the rationales, actors, aims, and contextual factors, as well as the political dynamics, that characterised the design of the YG national plan and its first implementation at the local level. The article argues that the Youth Guarantee offered the opportunity to think about the reorganisation of responsibilities and operational governance mechanisms in the domain of active labour market policy. Although some innovations and discontinuities are evident, the path of reform is still largely incomplete.
About the authors
Patrik Vesan teaches Political Science, together with Social and Labour Policies, at the University of Valle d’Aosta. His main research interests are the comparative analysis of social and labour policies, and of European governance within the socio-economic field.
Renata Lizzi is Senior Lecturer in Political Science at Bologna University. Her main research interests comprise public policy and policy making, in the domestic context and within the context of European governance, as well as interest groups both in Italy, in other European countries and at EU level.
Appendix
List of interviews:
Interview 1 – Minister of Labour and Social Policy, in office during the period July 2013 to April 2014.
Interview 2 – Director of the Ministry of Labour, a.
Interview 3 – Director of the Ministry of Labour, b.
Interview 4 – Employment policy expert, member of the Mission Unit.
Interview 5 – Senior Executive from ItaliaLavoro spa.
Interview 6 – Senior Manager in the Employment and Labour Department, the Lombardy Regional Government, a.
Interview 7 – Senior Manager in the Employment and Labour Department, the Lombardy Regional Government, b.
Interview 8 – Ministry of Labour advisor.
Interview 9 – Senior Manager in the Social Cohesion Department, the Piedmont Regional Government.
Interview 10 – Director of the Department of Employment, Training, Education, Equal Opportunities, Youth Policy and University Research, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government.
Interview 11 – Director of the Training Planning and Management Service, Employment Department, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government.
Interview 12 – Officer of the Training Planning and Management Service, Employment Department, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government.
Interview 13 – University researcher, expert in regional youth policies, and contributor to the drafting of Report on Youth Unemployment, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government.
Interview 14 – Senior Manager of the Employment Service, Department of Culture, Education and Employment, the Emilia Romagna Regional Government.
Interview 15 – Senior Manager of the Employment Service, at the Bologna City Council.
Interview 16 – Senior Manager of the Training, Employment, Education and Social Policy Sector, Ravenna Provincial Authority.
Interview 17 – Head of the Faenza Job Centres, Ravenna Provincial Authority.
Interview 18 – Regional Director of the Training, Education and Employment Department, the Veneto Regional Government.
Interview 19 – Senior Manager at the Regional Labour Market Watchdog Body, Veneto Lavoro.
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