The geography of child disability in Italy: new evidence from administrative data

Abstract The prevalence and nature of child disability vary considerably across and within countries, reflecting differences in healthcare systems, socioeconomic conditions, and cultural factors. We present new evidence from unique administrative data on child disability in Italy, examining prevalence by geography and age. We analyse how socio-economic and health indicators—at both individual and local level—are associated with the likelihood of disability in children. Consistently with previous literature, our findings reveal significant geographical and socioeconomic disparities in child disability rates, with a complex interplay of family-level characteristics and contextual factors related to the child’s immediate living environment.