Welfare sharing: an emerging paradigm? An explorative study based on two cases

A culture of well-being based on sharing and connection is increasingly spreading and could serve as a new goal of local welfare: using sophisticated software tools, producers and consumers can meet in a participatory infrastructure through which to interact and exchange goods and services. This article discusses several aspects of welfare sharing using the case study research method. By analyzing the We.Mi. project in the Municipality of Milan, and the WeGovNow project in the Municipality of San Donà di Piave (Venice), the logic of welfare sharing processes is examined to see if this paradigm can lead to social innovation in today’s welfare system.