The interplay between accessibility and population change is a relatively new subject in Italian academic research. Along with social and economic factors such as regional economic prosperity, the ease of movement inside and outside an area can play a pivotal role in shaping population dynamics. This study seeks to explore the spatial distribution and spatial relationships of three indicators, including one related to real accessibility (RAI) and two others related, respectively, to the shares of the older population (SOP) and of the foreign population (SFP). An exploratory spatial data analysis is, therefore, conducted at the local level using Italian municipalities as the statistical units for the empirical analysis. Local univariate spatial autocorrelation analysis is used together with a regression analysis based on ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The results provide valuable insights into the local heterogeneity that characterizes the distribution of each indicator and the local relationship between them, highlighting the importance of thinking locally in quantitative social sciences.

1. Over the last decades there has been a growing awareness that economic welfare only partially contributes to individual well-being, with its multidimensional nature. Subjective well-being and ot...

The present study examines the association between patterns of cultural engagement and subjective well-being amongst older adults, with a focus on gender differences and physical limitations. We carried out a latent class analysis using Italian data from a 2018 survey to identify the profiles of cultural consumers, exploring the relationship between these profiles and life, leisure, and friendship satisfaction. The results show that allocating more time to diverse cultural experiences was associated with higher levels of subjective well-being, even in the presence of gender differences and physical limitations. Women who engaged in diverse cultural experiences with increased intensity and who participated in highbrow activities exhibited higher levels of leisure and friendship satisfaction than men. Moreover, the analysis emphasizes the potential of cultural participation for aging adults dealing with physical challenges documenting that their participation in a diverse range of cultural activities is positively associated with friend and leisure satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of cultural participation in enhancing older adults’ well-being; it is hoped that they will be used to inform the development of targeted welfare policies.

This study investigates the relationship between cultural consumption patterns and well-being in the older population. Using data from the 2018 Italian Multipurpose Survey on Households “Aspects of daily life”, we employ Latent Class Analysis to identify distinct profiles of cultural consumers based on their attendance and engagement in various cultural and art activities. We then investigate the effects of these cultural consumption profiles on life satisfaction and other domains of well-being, including leisure and friend satisfaction. Our findings reveal a positive association between cultural engagement and subjective well-being across different domains. Specifically, individuals who allocate more time to diverse cultural experiences show higher levels of well-being. We also observe gender differences in well-being outcomes. These results highlight the importance of promoting cultural participation to enhance older adults’ well-being and inform the development of targeted welfare policies.

Previous studies found a pro-cyclical relationship between economic downturns and fertility in Western countries, while less is known about the Great Recession’s consequences on Italy's fertility levels. Using macro-data from different ISTAT sources, from 2006 to 2018, this study investigates how changes in the economic context, specifically unemployment, have influenced fertility at the regional level. The study also explores whether and how this relationship has changed. Our findings reveal a pro-cyclical relationship between fertility levels and unemployment during the period under observation, more sensitive after 2013 and less homogeneous across macro-areas. A deeper understanding of these dynamics can inform policy interventions aimed at supporting fertility and addressing demographic behaviours in times of uncertainty.