REDISTRIBUTIVE POLICIES AND RECIPIENTS: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

In this paper I present an empirical analysis of redistributive policies with particular attention to transfers. Theoretical considerations are compared with some empirical observations at three levels of analysis: supranational, national and sub-national. The main conclusion of my work is that, general speaking, redistributive policies do not follow normative criteria that predict they should be targeted to disadvantaged groups. Moreover, to some extent, a positive correlation between lobbies’ power and some dynamics of transfers favourable to middle classes arises.