Families "all'Italiana": 150 years of history

In this paper we trace the evolution over time of definitions, data sources, conceptual frameworks and strategies of analysis of family structures and behaviours in Italy since 1861, date of the country Unification. Then we focus on trends in family patterns at beginning of the new Millennium, and compare the Italian case with the other European countries. We mainly concentrate on data on unions formation and dissolution and show many figures which suggest a growing flexibility of unions and a rising breaking-down of the Italian marriage. We thus contribute to the discussion about the delay and specificity of the “new” family models in Italy, providing a dynamic picture in a context of institutional constraints and lack of welfare aids