A System Framework for a Competitive Relaunch of the South and the Country

This paper offers not only elements of analysis, but also some information about the lines of action that the SVIMEZ proposes to contribute to the definition of a development strategy necessary to overcome the Italian dualism. Starting with some data on the economic and social trends in the South during the crisis period (2008-2014), it gives the size of the challenge for restarting a process of development, that does not mean merely growth, within a plan where the State becomes responsible as «director», and not as a simple spending subject or only as a guarantor of market functioning. In order to address the crisis of competitiveness of both the South and the entire country - starting from the need to relaunch public investment, also as a lever to activate private ones - this paper proposes a programme of interventions structured on specific priority and unifying issues - the so-called drivers - in a Mediterranean as well as renewed active development policy perspective. In addition to the relaunch of a coherent and modern industrial policy, these areas are: logistics, renewable energy, urban and environmental regeneration, agribusiness and agro-industry, water government, industrial policy and research and innovation. It is to implement a strategy that must be based on a "system framework for a competitive relaunch of the South and the Country".