Internal Geography and External Trade: Regional Disparities in Italy, 1861-2011
57 Pages Posted: 23 Mar 2013
There are 2 versions of this paper
Internal Geography and External Trade: Regional Disparities in Italy, 1861-2011
Internal Geography and External Trade: Regional Disparities in Italy, 1861-2011
Date Written: October 25, 2011
Abstract
This paper explores the interactions between external trade and regional disparities in the Italian economy since unification. It argues that the advantage of the North was initially based on natural advantage (in particular the endowment of water, intensive in silk production). From 1880 onwards the share of exports in GDP stagnated and then declined; domestic market access therefore became a key determinant of industrial location, inducing fast growing new sectors (especially engineering) to locate in regions with a large domestic market, i.e. in the North. From 1945 onwards trade growth and European integration meant that foreign market access was the decisive factor; the North had the advantage of proximity to these markets.
Keywords: industrialisation, market integration, new economic geography, geographic concentration, Italian regions
JEL Classification: F14, F15, N63, N64, N93, N94, R11, R12
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation