Passive modernization? the new human development index and its components in Italy’s regions (1871-2007)

The article presents and discusses estimates of social and economic indicators for Italy’s regions in benchmark years roughly from Unification to the present day: life expectancy, education, GDP per capita at purchasing power parity, and the new Human Development Index (HDI). A broad interpretative hypothesis, based on the distinction between passive and active modernization, is proposed to account for the evolution of regional imbalances over the long-run. In the lack of active modernization, Southern Italy converged thanks to passive modernization, i.e., State intervention: however, this was more effective in life expectancy, less successful in education, expensive and as a whole ineffective in GDP. As a consequence, convergence in the HDI occurred from the late XIX century to the 1970s, but came to a sudden halt in the last decades of the XX century.

Aspectos socioculturales de la precariedad laboral y de su impacto

This essay analyzes the current work crisis, its individual and social influence and its implications on human development and health. It discusses the main cultural perspectives on the notion of work and presents the hypothesis of a possible influence of the cultural meaning of the concept of 'work' on diminishing self-esteem and mental health problems among unemployed people. The essay also highlights possible implications of the current situation in the future taking into consideration socioeconomic and political aspects as well as global demographic growth. Finally, the essay discusses the role that Public Health should have not only in the prevention and control of health problems among the unemployed, but also in the social, economic and cultural changes that are considered necessary to mitígate the serious social differences and to improve the current situation.

Aspectos socioculturales de la precariedad laboral y de su impacto

This essay analyzes the current work crisis, its individual and social influence and its implications on human development and health. It discusses the main cultural perspectives on the notion of work and presents the hypothesis of a possible influence of the cultural meaning of the concept of 'work' on diminishing self-esteem and mental health problems among unemployed people. The essay also highlights possible implications of the current situation in the future taking into consideration socioeconomic and political aspects as well as global demographic growth. Finally, the essay discusses the role that Public Health should have not only in the prevention and control of health problems among the unemployed, but also in the social, economic and cultural changes that are considered necessary to mitígate the serious social differences and to improve the current situation.