Intergenerational inequalities are a growing concern in modern politics, with older generations benefiting from generous social benefits at the expense of younger ones. In Italy, this phenomenon is particularly pronounced, with the elderly receiving a disproportionately high level of social expenditure compared to the rest of the EU. This problem is the focus of the book “Stealing from the youth and giving to the old? Intergenerational inequalities and political dynamics in the Italian Pension System.” In this book, the author analyzes the causes of this imbalance, examining the demographic and economic situation of Italy, comparing it to other EU countries and providing long-term projections for the sustainability of the Italian pension system. Using a historical institutionalist perspective, the author also investigates the role of exogenous actors such as European Institutions in changing pension policy-making, while identifying negative patterns in pension policy during the Second Republic. The book also explains the difference between the contributive and retributive pension regimes and how they work in Italy. Overall, this book is an important contribution to the ongoing debate on intergenerational inequalities and social welfare in Italy.

• Intergenerational inequalities
• Italian Pension System
• Social expenditure
• Welfare state
• Elderly benefits
• Retirement age
• Defined contribution scheme
• Defined benefit formulae scheme
• Party competition
• European Institutions
• Fiscal sustainability
• Incrementalism
• Blame avoidance
• Interest groups
• Policy-making
• Demographic scenario
• Economic scenario
• Sustainability
• Italian political environment.