Newcomers in regions: exploring the impact of regional dynamics in support of inclusive redistribution across Europe

This chapter seeks to shed light on citizens’ preferences on decentralisation by examining public attitudes toward the distribution of competencies in social and welfare policy across levels of jurisdiction. Contrary to most studies, which focus on cross-country comparisons, this chapter explores differences in individual attitudes across regions, the geographical units between the state and municipalities, endowed with legislative and administrative competencies. This line of thinking points to the importance of understanding how people’s preferences, interests, values and, consequently, their political behaviour are forged by the geographical places that surround them.