Reconsidering Welfare Policies in Times of Crisis ― Perspectives for European Cities

This book offers a European perspective on spatial planning and welfare policies in relation to the new conditions derived from the current urban crisis. The book deals with research and policy issues stemming from the fact that in the last ten years European cities have been affected by a structural crisis, not only financial but also a social, environmental and spatial, leading to an economic collapse. The crisis and its consequences due to political, financial and social conflicts contribute to increasing a city’s complexity in terms of decrease of public finance, slowdowns in the real estate market, economic stagnation and the reduction of the consolidated welfare policies. In light of this, this book proposes to reframe European urban welfare towards a “framework-rule” perspective. It is based on new rules and responsibilities as a path to change that would enable cities to respond to new circumstances through innovative actions thanks to co-production. The book focuses on the potential of this approach, identifying innovative perspectives for researchers, institutions and practitioners in the field of urban and regional planning.

It also addresses the growth of civic initiatives all over Europe in which citizens and private business are engaged for the self-delivery of urban facilities, while jointly identifying issues and needs, and trying to solve problems with innovative and inclusive responses. This book will appeal to students and researchers along with a professional and policy audience due to the topical nature of the contents.

Ombretta Caldarice, is Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Politecnico and Universita di Torino, Italy, in the Inter-University Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning. Her research activity mainly focuses on the relationship between spatial planning and regulation, with particular attention to welfare policies, urban resilience and institutional innovation. She took part in national and international research projects working on the socio-economic development in regional areas. She is now junior coordinator of the Risk Management and Adaptation Group of the international programme “RESURBE” on Urban Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation. Currently, her research activity is focused on the role (and limits) of planning in complex and adaptive systems. She is member of the editorial boards of the Italian Journal on Urban Innovation and of the International Journal of Social Science.