Territory, competitive advantages and local productive systems

This work aims at analyzing if, as often indicated by theoretical and empirical literature, the "territory" variable shows local development dynamics. A review of the districts phenomenon has favoured the attempt to integrate modern economical trends in this consolidated productive model, with particular emphasis on firm internationalization, market globalisation and the IT developments, including business services as well. The work underlines two implication of this innovative approach: the new concept of competition and the role attributed to industrial and political economics. Using the Wroclaw University taxonomy method, it is possible to analyze the structure and the competitiveness of Italian regions ("the concurrent territories"). As indicated by different key indicators, this allows the understanding of territory propulsive forces. This analysis suggests a different approach to the Italian economic dualism, that considers a deeper vision of territorial "competitive" difficulties. Lastly, different measures are indicated in order to enhance the territory, aiming at obtaining the reduction of differences between developed and poor area of the country. Furthermore, these measures include specific policy tools able to correct and/or boost specific local weaknesses and/or competitive advantages of each territory within one geographic area.