In Italy, the bonus culture initially known as 18appallowed young people aged 18 to benefit from a universal credit of 500 euros for cultural purchases, mainly books, since 2016. This system inspired the French government to set up the Culture pass in 2021, the budget and management must be reformed.
In 2024, the Italian initiative was replaced by two separate maps, each with restrictive criteria. The first, called the “eighteen-year-old card”, was reserved for young people from low-income families. The second, “merit card”, was aimed at students who obtained the best grades in their secondary school diploma.
According to Piero Attanasiothe public relations manager of the Association of Italian Publishers (AIE), “ only 66% of young people eligible for the merit card registered, a disappointing figure for a measure supposed to reward the best students, often those most interested in culture ».
A direct impact on the book market
The previous, universal system had made it possible to effectively support the book industry. In 2023, the 18app generated 220 million euros in spending, around 60% of which was allocated to the purchase of books. In comparison, the two new cards, with a budget of 190 million euros, are struggling to find their audience. Forecasts indicate that less than €100 million will be spent by the end of the year. A significant shortfall for the publishing sector.
« The introduction of restrictive criteria has created a discouraging bureaucracy for young people », underlines Piero Attanasio. Indeed, the obligation to provide complex family documents to demonstrate eligibility has put off many potential beneficiaries. Furthermore, the government has not carried out any communication campaign to promote this reform.
Bookstores and publishers in difficulty
The IEA estimates that the shortfall for the book sector amounts to 60 or 70 million euros compared to the previous year. “ 18-year-olds accounted for a significant portion of book sales thanks to 18app. Without this support, independent bookstores, already weakened, risk suffering the full brunt of this drop in revenue. », warns the representative.
For the association, diversifying the Culture pass into two cards is a mistake. “ We proposed a hybrid solution: a universal card for everyone, with a supplement for disadvantaged young people.poursuit Piero Attanasio. This would have made it possible to preserve the universality of the system while respecting the government's objective of helping the poorest. »
A parallel with the French debate
In France, the Culture pass, which grants an envelope of 300 euros to all young people aged 18, is also being revised. Some fear a restriction of uses or a reduction in the budget, to the detriment of book purchases. “ If you impose excessive restrictions or reduce accessibility, you risk severing a vital link between young people and culture », Warns the IEA representative.
The association recommends maintaining a universal basis, reducing administrative constraints and actively promoting the system. As the Italian representative summarizes, “ a Culture pass is not just an expense, it is an investment in the cultural and educational future of young people. »
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