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Inter-Municipal Planning as a Framework for Managing Policies for Inner Areas: Insights from the Italian Context

Author

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  • Alessio Floris

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Sergio Serra

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy)

Abstract

The socio-economic geography of the Italian territory is framed by strong imbalances in the settlement development, with consequent inequalities in terms of accessibility to essential services. These challenges are most critical in the ‘inner areas’, which are remote from metropolitan and urban centers and affected by chronic demographic decline and depopulation. Both European and national policies have relied primarily on financial interventions, often implemented with limited integration into comprehensive urban and territorial planning frameworks. Using a case study methodology, this research examines the area-based strategies of the 72 pilot areas designated under the 2014–2020 program-ming cycle of the National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI). The main research question guiding this study is as follows: how does economic planning intersect with territorial governance in Italy’s inner areas, and what is the specific role of local autonomies and the management of core functions, particularly in relation to urban and regional planning? Through this lens, this study proposes a conceptual reframing of the inter-municipal ad-ministrative scale as a strategic framework for promoting more effective territorial policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessio Floris & Sergio Serra, 2025. "Inter-Municipal Planning as a Framework for Managing Policies for Inner Areas: Insights from the Italian Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6896-:d:1712708
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    References listed on IDEAS

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