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The economic impact of legislation and litigation on growth: a historical analysis of Italy from its unification to World War II

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  • DI VITA, GIUSEPPE
  • DI VITA, FABIO
  • CAFISO, GIANLUCA

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the impact of Italy's unification on its economic growth from 1861 to the outbreak of World War II. This historical analysis attempts to prove that the process of legislative harmonization intrinsic to the unification had a positive effect on Italy's GDP because legislative uniformity facilitates economic transactions. Moreover a uniform and more effective legislation would have caused less litigation and therefore favoured economic growth, thanks to smoother relations between economic agents.

Suggested Citation

  • Di Vita, Giuseppe & Di Vita, Fabio & Cafiso, Gianluca, 2019. "The economic impact of legislation and litigation on growth: a historical analysis of Italy from its unification to World War II," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 121-141, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jinsec:v:15:y:2019:i:01:p:121-141_00
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marciano, Alain & Ramello, Giovanni B., 2019. "Introduction to the symposium on the empirics of judicial institutions," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 73-80, February.

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