The journal was established within the National Research Council, Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies. The editorial project was conceived by Antonella Ciocia – who also took on its directorship – and the first issue was published in 2015.

The mission of IRPPS guides the selection of the topics covered, which is shared with the journal’s own governing bodies.

In 2019, following the collaboration between the CNR and the University, the directorship is shared with Mara Tognetti (University of Milan La Statale).

Since 2017, it has been classified by ANVUR as a scientific journal for Area 14.
Since its inception, it has adopted double-blind peer review; it is published in both print and digital formats; it is monographic in nature and, since 2020, it also features an open section to provide space for innovative and interesting works related to the ongoing scientific debate or the current historical moment.