Abstract

During last ten years both populism and austerity have furtherly challenged democracy and welfare, especially by the side of social policy. Therefore, the debate over income-based politics – from basic income to minimum income – reached the mood of national political agendas, also in Southern countries. But, what’s the real efficiency of minimum income policies in south European models? Are this kind of policy really taking-up the demand of social protection and of labour marketlinking that economic crisis has raised up? Starting from a theoretical frame on income-based politics, the article aims to respond through an empirical assessment of two policies: Spanish Rmi (Renta mínima de inserción) and Italian Rc (Reddito di cittadinanza).