This book explores the dimensions and characteristics of social vulnerability in Western Europe. It provides a broad empirical foundation for recent theories on the emergence of new social risks in post-industrial societies, revealing to what extent social risks are compromising the 'normal' functioning of the European population.  

List of Figures and Tables List of Abbreviations Notes on Contributors Preface Acknowledgments PART I: CONCEPTS AND METHODOLOGY Social Vulnerability in Europe; C.Ranci Bringing Territory Back in Social Comparative Research;  C.Ranci PART II: ASPECTS OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY Beyond the Male Breadwinner Family Model;  E.Pavolini  & C.Ranci Income Vulnerability in Europe;  S.Curatolo  & G.Wolleb Unstable Employment in Western Europe: Exploring the Individual and Household Dimensions;  I. Fellini  & M.Migliavacca Housing Deprivation and Vulnerability in Western Europe;  P.Palvarini  & E.Pavolini Disability and Caregiving: A Step Towards Social Vulnerability?;  G.Costa  & C.Ranci PART III: MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS The Vulnerability of Young Adults on Leaving the Parental Home;  G.A.Micheli& A.Rosina Social Vulnerability: A Multidimensional Analysis;  C.Ranci  & M.Migliavacca Explaining Social Vulnerability;  C.Ranci, B.Fiore  &  E.Pavolini General Conclusion; C.Ranci References Notes

GIULIANA COSTA is Assistant Professor in Sociology at the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy SALVATORE CURATOLO is Assistant Professor in Applied Economics at the University of Parma, Italy IVANA FELLINI is Assistant Professor of Economic Sociology at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy BRUNELLA FIORE is Research Fellow at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy GIUSEPPE A. MICHELI is Professor of Demography at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy MAURO MIGLIAVACCA teaches and researches at the Catholic University of Milan, at the Polytechnic of Milan and at the Ca' Foscari University in Venice, Italy PIETRO PALVARINI is Ph.D. candidate in Urban and Local European Studies (URBEUR) at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy EMMANUELE PAVOLINI is Professor in Economic Sociology and Social Policy at University of Macerata, Italy COSTANZO RANCI is Professor in Economic Sociology and Director of the Social Policy Research Laboratory at the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy ALESSANDRO ROSINA is Associate Professor in Demography at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy GUGLIELMO WOLLEB is Professor of Economics at the University of Parma, Italy