Italian society is changing profoundly and rapidly due to the pressure of demographic changes that redesign its composition. Yet the demographic issue does not have a significant presence in the political and media debate and is often faced with generic tones, sufficient enough to satisfy specific curiosities or rhetorical needs, but unsuitable to support a constructive reflection.

In this book, Letizia Mencarini and Daniele Vignoli draw a complete picture of Italy's low fertility. “We could say that we are in the middle of a "demographic trap": The fewer children of the past, who are today's parents, are again increasingly fewer and older. Therefore, they are tying down not only current births, but also future ones.”