Spread of Cohabitation and Proximity between Kin in Contemporary Italy

Abstract

In countries of Mediterranean Europe, characterized by strong family ties, close residential proximity between kin facilitates frequent exchanges of free mutual aid. This article focuses on the challenges to proximity posed by the spread of cohabitation in Italy. We consider an extensive definition of kin networks, including siblings and, for women in a couple, the parents and siblings of the partner. We confirm that couples who cohabit or who have cohabited, and those who after having cohabited went on to marry, less frequently went to live near their kin. However, some caution should be taken before arguing that the particular density of kin networks in Italy is destined to disappear.