Since 1967, the Censis Foundation (Centre for Social Studies and Policie) has published a yearly Report on Italy's social situation.Policy makers, businessmen and experts in the variousn sectors of economic and social policies make large use of the well-structured comments, data and interpretations it gathers.It definitely represents the most highly qualified text for self-appraisal on the part of Italian society.

The Report is traditionally composed by different sections: a first introductory part ("An Overall View") takes into consideration and evaluates the main social issues concerning Italy during the year.The second part ("1997: Italy) aims at analysing in detail, thanks to the wealth of data supplied, the most relevant socio-economic changes, in view of their future establishment as regular phenomena.

The third part ("Areas of Social Policy") probes changes and processes in the fields on education, welfare, work, territory, environment and networks, economic actors of development.The fourth part ("Means and Procedures") takes into consideration two strategic sectors for social policies: Public Government and Communication.

The present book is a synthesis of the 31st Censis Report 1997, and is addressed to foreign observers and experts in the social field, as an original tool for knowing and evaluating the current aspects of Italian society and economy.

The Censis Foundation is based in Rome.Since 1964, it has been operating in the fields of research and consultancy in the basic sectors of Italian society, gaining increasing recognition from national and international cultural, political, economic and scientific circles, and from public opinion at large.