The contribution contextualizes the analyses carried out in the other studies in this number of the Rivista, offering a general reference frame for Ltc policies in Europe. If the other essays offer an analysis of the processes and quality of what is happening in the field of policies for the non-self-sufficient, here there is a useful quantitative basis that can provide a comparative view of the various countries under study against the more general background of the changes in social demand and institutional responses. The essay is structured around four themes: the characteristics and changes in the demand for care for the non-self-sufficient; the organization of informal care; the organization of public supply; and the effects of the various «care regimes» on the users and on their informal carers.only subscribers can see the full article