Mezzogiorno and Inner Areas. An Evaluation of the Effects of Policies from 1950 to the Present on the Southern Settlement System for a Third Way between Central Planning and Local Development

This paper aims at defining the methodological framework for verifying the territorial effects of national policies in support of Southern Italian Regions (Mezzogiorno). Such evaluation requires a new standpoint, i.e. a detailed geo-referenced analysis of the funds used to help development. So far this approach has been marginally adopted in the existing studies. We consider this kind of study useful for defining a comprehensive evaluation of these polices designed to overcoming the considerable weaknesses of the settlement system in the Mezzogiorno, with a special focus on inner areas. Some of the proposed analyses have been tested by using data currently available. In particular, the study focuses on actions implemented by the local agencies for the development of industrial activities (Consorzi per le Aree e i Nuclei di Sviluppo Industriale) and the construction of dams, as far as the 1950-1970 period is concerned. For the following period (1994-2000) the Territorial Employment Pacts have been studied. Despite the difficulties faced in collecting relevant data, this study confirms the methodological assumptions, that is an inadequate consideration of the settlement inefficiencies. This limit is clearly reflected by the increasing differences among more developed areas and inner ones. The proposed evaluation methodology may give hints for correcting the cohesion policies already implemented, taking into account the previously made mistakes