## Italy: Selected Issues

_IMF Staff Country Reports, July 23, 2024_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Italy: Selected Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/07/23/italy-selected-issues-552196)

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- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/07/23/italy-selected-issues-552196/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/07/23/italy-selected-issues-552196/index.json)
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## Bibliographic details
- Published: July 23, 2024
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400284052.002

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### Main finding: paradox of low fertility and low female labor force participation
- 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 time use and social norms
- 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.

### Recent shifts and structural drivers
- 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.

### Regional divide and structural impediments
- A large divide exists between Northern and Southern regions:
  - Much lower female labor force participation in the South.
  - Similar fertility rate across North and South.
- This pattern suggests the presence of structural impediments, such as labor market rigidities and scarcity of childcare facilities.

*Source: Italy: Selected Issues, July 23, 2024 (IMF).*

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## Content in this bundle

- **Italy: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/241; July 3, 2024**
  - [Italy: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/241; July 3, 2024 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2024/english/1itaea2024002.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Italy: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/241; July 3, 2024 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2024/english/1itaea2024002.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/07/23/italy-selected-issues-552196_