{
  "title": "Italy: Selected Issues",
  "publication": "IMF Staff Country Reports, July 23, 2024",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/07/23/italy-selected-issues-552196",
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  "summary": "This Selected Issues paper focuses on the paradox of Italy’s low fertility and low female labor force participation. Within-household allocation of housework tends to be relatively specialized in Italy, and with more limited burden-sharing in households with children.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Main finding: paradox of low fertility and low female labor force participation",
      "content": "- Italy exhibits a rare combination of low fertility and low female labor force participation.\n- The number of births has fallen by a third over the last fifteen years.\n- Female labor force participation remains very low.\n- This uncommon combination points to the need to improve the compatibility of work and family life."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Within-household time use and social norms",
      "content": "- Within-household allocation of housework tends to be relatively specialized in Italy.\n- Burden-sharing is more limited in households with children.\n- Social and cultural norms are frequently cited as one of the main reasons for Italy’s large time-use gender gaps.\n- With ingrained norms, changing behaviors might be seen as very challenging."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Recent shifts and structural drivers",
      "content": "- Italy’s work-family outcomes have undergone significant shifts within a relatively short time span.\n- These shifts are most likely in response to large structural changes in the nature of employment contracts and the macroeconomic environment."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Regional divide and structural impediments",
      "content": "- A large divide exists between Northern and Southern regions:\n  - Much lower female labor force participation in the South.\n  - Similar fertility rate across North and South.\n- This pattern suggests the presence of structural impediments, such as labor market rigidities and scarcity of childcare facilities.\n\nSource: Italy: Selected Issues, July 23, 2024 (IMF).\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Italy: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/241; July 3, 2024\n  - Italy: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/241; July 3, 2024 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Italy: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/241; July 3, 2024 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}"
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    "Published: July 23, 2024",
    "Series: IMF Staff Country Reports",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400284052.002",
    "Italy exhibits a rare combination of low fertility and low female labor force participation.",
    "The number of births has fallen by a third over the last fifteen years.",
    "Female labor force participation remains very low.",
    "This uncommon combination points to the need to improve the compatibility of work and family life.",
    "Within-household allocation of housework tends to be relatively specialized in Italy.",
    "Burden-sharing is more limited in households with children.",
    "Social and cultural norms are frequently cited as one of the main reasons for Italy’s large time-use gender gaps.",
    "With ingrained norms, changing behaviors might be seen as very challenging.",
    "Italy’s work-family outcomes have undergone significant shifts within a relatively short time span.",
    "These shifts are most likely in response to large structural changes in the nature of employment contracts and the macroeconomic environment.",
    "A large divide exists between Northern and Southern regions:",
    "This pattern suggests the presence of structural impediments, such as labor market rigidities and scarcity of childcare facilities.",
    "**Italy: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/241; July 3, 2024**"
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