systems organised by private groups. The Catholic bloc found itself as a mediating force in the transition, with the church involved in public dialogue that furthered its own socially conservative views and its charities filling these devolved welfare roles. Gendered familial assumptions historically defined the Italian welfare system. In this changing period, however, these assumptions were challenged by rising female labour market participation. Stress on the welfare system was the result of tensions between aspects of the state that seek to equalise across gendered roles, and welfare provisions that perpetuate them. Concurrently, economic migration for domestic labour became a larger factor in the Italian welfare state. Greater female labour market participation increased the demand for domestic labour. In this labour-intensive field, migrants could only compete on wages by working in the informal economy. Decentralising reforms essentially made some welfare provisions accessible to migrants informally. Although immigration law was strengthened in 1992, enforcement actions were sporadic, rendering it an ineffective deterrent to informal immigration. As the 2000s came around Italy's welfare system expenditures favoured the elderly and middle aged for pensions and those who have worked in the formal workforce, especially those employed by large industrial companies. The younger generation is left in the lurch as many of them, even those with higher educations and degrees, have never been able to find a job and must rely on their parents for support. Those who can get a job often take temporary work, lower paying jobs, and jobs which have nothing to do with their education. The unemployment rate for Italy's youth is over 40 percent. One of the population groups benefiting from the Italian welfare system's spending, over $900 million in 1995, is mothers. Women are given maternity leave for two months before birth to three months after and are paid 80 percent of their salary. They are also offered an additional six months leave if they choose, and their jobs must be guaranteed for one year. See also Social Model Welfare state References Further reading Arts, Wil and John Gelissen, (2002) “Three worlds of welfare capitalism or more? A state-of-the-art report”, Journal of European Social Policy, vol. 12, London: Sage External links Inps, La nostra storia Tafter, La frammentazione delle politiche di edilizia sociale Tesionline, Tesi di laurea – La contrattazione assistita nella nuova disciplina delle locazioni abitative Tesionline, L’Equo Canone Wingert, Jamie (2000), Country Case Studies and Links: Italy,