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Falling disparities and persisting dualism: Regional development and industrialisation in Italy, 1891–2001

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  • Vittorio Daniele

    (Department of Legal, Historical, Economic and Social Science, University «Magna Graecia» of Catanzaro, Campus S. Venuta, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy)

  • Paolo Malanima

    (Institute of Studies on Mediterranean Societies (ISSM), National Research Council (CNR), Via P. Castellino, 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy)

Abstract

The particular development of the Italian regional disparities and North–South inequality is correlated with the structural change which came about during the process of industrialisation. This process began in certain Northern poles producing a sudden increase in regional inequality, but, as it later spread through the North and Centre, a fall in regional disparities resulted. Industrialisation only superficially interested the South, which remained relatively backward. While regional convergence occurred both within the North and the South, divergence between North and South persisted. After presenting series of both labour force in industry and regional GDP, we analyse the relationship between industrialisation and inequalities and, finally, quantify the importance of the North–South dualism within the context of the Italian regional disparities. KEY Classification-JEL: D310. R100

Suggested Citation

  • Vittorio Daniele & Paolo Malanima, 2014. "Falling disparities and persisting dualism: Regional development and industrialisation in Italy, 1891–2001," Investigaciones de Historia Económica - Economic History Research (IHE-EHR), Journal of the Spanish Economic History Association, Asociación Española de Historia Económica, vol. 10(03), pages 165-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:ahe:invest:v:10:y:2014:i:03:p:165-176
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