Emmanuele Pavolini is Full Professor in Economic Sociology at the University of Milan (Italy). He focuses his research interests in two fields: welfare state studies in a comparative perspective, with specific attention to the Italian and Southern European welfare states, social policies (i.e. long-term care, family policies, health care and education), inequalities in the access to welfare state provision, occupational and fiscal welfare, welfare mix and third sector organizations; labour market research and economic development, with a focus on the changing roles of professionals, networks among enterprises, strategies for competitiveness, and the role of migrants in the labour market. He is currently co-editor of the Journal of European Social Policy, co-chair of the Italian ESPAnet Board, and co-spokesman of the network in support of families with children “Alleanza per l’infanzia”. He has extensively publish in international journals: Journal of European Social Policy, Social Policy & Administration, Acta Sociologica, Journal of Gerontology, Comparative European Politics, Social Politics, Journal of European Public Policy, Sociology of Health & Illness, Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy.