Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigating Regional Disparities in Italy’s Well-Being Since Unification (1871–2011)

  • Research paper - Europe and Italy
  • Published:
Italian Economic Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper investigates the wellbeing development of Italian regions since 1871. To this aim we use 4 aggregating methods (arithmetic mean, geometric mean, Leontief production functions, adjusted Mazziotta and Pareto index) to summarize 22 indicators over 6 domains of wellbeing from a multidimensional perspective; this approach allows us to assess differences arising from the adopted aggregation method. Over the 140 years under investigation and selected sub-periods we study \(\sigma \)-, \(\gamma \)- and \(\beta \)- convergence and we shed new light on the relative performance and historical development of Italian regions, with convergence occurring only in selected domains.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Source: shapefiles from ISTAT. In red the North, in white the Centre and green the South

Fig. 2

Source: Authors’ computations

Fig. 3

Source: Authors’ computations

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Ciommi et al. (2017a) propose a long-run wellbeing analysis of Italy based on the multidimensional approach proposed by OECD ‘s “How was life?” (Van Zanden et al. 2014) analysis and the framework of BES, which is the national “going beyond GDP” project adopted by Italian National Statistical Institute (ISTAT 2015). The choice of 6 domains was the best feasible selection of wellbeing dimensions arranged on the basis of available data, i.e. 41 nationwide indicators (with only objective and official nationwide measures). Similarly, in this work 6 domains out of 22 territorial indicators are the best feasible multidimensional analysis of Italian regions over the long run we could elaborate as in Chelli et al. (2018).

  2. See Mazziotta and Pareto (2014, p. 129) on how to settle properly Goalpost.

  3. The coefficient of variation is usually preferred in convergence analysis as it is not affected by measurement unit nor on the indicators’ size (Dalgaard and Vastrup 2001; Monfort 2008; Bucur and Stangaciu 2015).

  4. Punctual results may change accordingly to a different settled year as goalpost (we did the analysis also with 1871 and 1951 as controls); however, indexes’ dynamics and rankings do not change and the problem of falling outside boundaries persists.

  5. Even though Molise was constituted as independent region 1963 data are reliable since the 1951 census.

  6. Full estimates are available upon request.

References

  • Alaimo LS, Maggino F (2020) Sustainable development goals indicators at territorial level: conceptual and methodological issues—the Italian perspective. Soc Indic Res 147(2):383–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacchini F, Baldazzi B, Di Biagio L (2020) The evolution of composite indices of well-being: an application to Italy. Ecol Indic 117:106603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baffigi A (2011) Italian National Accounts, 1861–2011. Economic History Working Papers N. 18. Bank of Italy, Rome

  • Barro RJ, Sala-i-Martin X (1992) Convergence. J Polit Econ 100:223–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barro RJ, Sala-i-Martin X (1995) Economic growth. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunello G, Checchi D (2005) School quality and family background in Italy. Econ Educ Rev 24(5):563–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucur IA, Stangaciu OA (2015) The European Union convergence in terms of economic and human development. CES Working Papers vol 7, no 2, p 256

  • Butkus M, Cibulskiene D, Maciulyte-Sniukiene A, Matuzeviciute K (2018) What is the evolution of convergence in the EU? Decomposing EU disparities up to NUTS 3 level. Sustainability 10(5):1552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calcagnini G, Perugini F (2019) Social capital and well-being in the Italian provinces. Socioecon Plan Sci 68:100668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chelli FM, Ciommi M, Ermini B, Gallegati M, Gentili A, Gigliarano C (2018) San Matteo e la provvidenza. I luoghi ei tempi dello sviluppo italiano. Rivista Giuridica Del Mezzogiorno 32(3):643–672

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciommi M, Gentili A, Ermini B, Gigliarano C, Chelli FM, Gallegati M (2017a) Have your cake and eat it too: the well-being of the Italians (1861–2011). Soc Indic Res 134(2):473–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciommi M, Gigliarano C, Emili A, Taralli S, Chelli FM (2017b) A new class of composite indicators for measuring well-being at the local level: an application to the equitable and sustainable well-being (BES) of the Italian provinces. Ecol Indic 76:281–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corbetta P, Piretti MS (2009) Atlante storico-elettorale d’Italia: 1861–2008. Zanichelli, Bologna

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniele V, Malanima P (2014) Falling disparities and persisting dualism: regional development and industrialisation in Italy, 1891–2001. Econ Hist Res 10(3):165–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalgaard CJ, Vastrup J (2001) On the measurement of σ-convergence. Econ Lett 70(2):283–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dapena AD, Vázquez EF, Morollón FR (2016) The role of spatial scale in regional convergence: the effect of MAUP in the estimation of β-convergence equations. Annals Reg Sci 56(2):473–489

  • Deaton A (2007) Height, health, and development. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104(33):13232–13237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durlauf SN, Quah DT (1999) The new empirics of economic growth, in Taylor JB, Woodford M (eds) Handbook of macroeconomics, vol IA, Cap. 4. North-Holland, Amsterdam

  • De Muro P, Mazziotta M, Pareto A (2011) Composite indices of development and poverty: an application to MDGs. Soc Indic Res 104(1):1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (2019) Eurostat regional yearbook 2019. Önnerfors Å, Kotzeva M, Brandmüller T. Eurostat, Brussel. https://doi.org/10.2785/1522

  • Ezcurra R (2007) Is there cross-country convergence in carbon dioxide emissions? Energy Policy 35(2):1363–1372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felice E (2011) Regional value added in Italy, 1891–2001, and the foundation of a long-term picture 1. Econ Hist Rev 64(3):929–950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felice E (2012) Regional convergence in Italy, 1891–2001: testing human and social capital. Cliometrica 6(3):267–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felice E (2013) Perché il Sud è rimasto indietro. il Mulino, Bologna

  • Felice E, Vasta M (2015) Passive modernization? The new human development index and its components in Italy’s regions (1871–2007). Eur Rev Econ Hist 19(1):44–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felice E (2019) The roots of a dual equilibrium: GDP, productivity, and structural change in the Italian regions in the long run (1871–2011). Eur Rev Econ Hist 23(4):499–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrara AR, Nisticò R (2013) Well-being indicators and convergence across Italian regions. Appl Res Qual Life 8(1):15–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrara AR, Nisticò R (2019) Does institutional quality matter for multidimensional well-being inequalities? Insights from Italy. Soc Indic Res 145(3):1063–1105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiorino N, Galli E, Pontarollo N (2021) Does social capital affect Voter turnout? Evidence from Italy. Soc Indic Res 156(1):289–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gentili A (2021) L’istruzione in Italia, storia di un fallimento. In: Gentili A, Pignataro G (eds) Disuguaglianze e istruzione in Italia. Carocci Editore

  • Guijarro F, Poyatos JA (2018) Designing a sustainable development goal index through a goal programming model: the case of EU-28 countries. Sustainability 10(9):3167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton TJ, Bray BE (2010) Long run trends in the heights of European men, 19th–20th centuries. Econ Hum Biol 8(3):405–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iammarino S, Rodríguez-Pose A, Storper M (2019) Regional inequality in Europe: evidence, theory and policy implications. J Econ Geogr 19(2):273–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISTAT (2015) Rapporto Bes: Il benessere equo e sostenibile in Italia. Istat, Roma. http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/175169

  • ISTAT (2018) Serie storiche Istat. http://seriestoriche.istat.it/

  • Johnson P, Papageorgiou C (2020) What remains of cross-country convergence? J Econ Lit 58(1):129–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • JRC-Joint Research Centre-European Commission (2008) Handbook on constructing composite indicators: methodology and user guide. OECD publishing

  • Konya L, Guisan MC (2008) What does the human development index tell us about convergence? Appl Econom Int Dev 8(1)

  • Mankiw NG, Romer D, Weil DN (1992) A contribution to the empirics of economic growth. Q J Econ 107:407–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer-Foulkes D (2012) Divergences and convergences in human development. Indian J Hum Dev 6(2):175–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazumdar K (2002) A note on cross-country divergence in standard of living. Appl Econ Lett 9:87–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazziotta M, Pareto A (2018) Measuring well-being over time: the adjusted Mazziotta–Pareto index versus other non-compensatory indices. Soc Indic Res 136(3):967–976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazziotta M, Pareto A (2016) On a generalized non-compensatory composite index for measuring socio-economic phenomena. Soc Indic Res 127(3):983–1003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazziotta M, Pareto A (2014) A composite index for measuring Italian regions’ development over time. Rivista Italiana di Economia e Demografia 68(3/4)

  • Meliciani V, Peracchi F (2006) Convergence in per-capita GDP across European regions: a reappraisal. Empir Econ 31(3):549–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MININT, Ministero degli Interni (2018) Eligendo Open data. https://dait.interno.gov.it/elezioni

  • Monfort P (2008) Convergence of EU regions: measures and evolution. European Commission, Regional Policy, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Noorbakhsh F (2007) International convergence or higher inequality in human development? Evidence for 1975–2002. In: Mavrotas G, Shorrocks A (eds) Advancing development. studies in development economics and policy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230801462_9

  • OECD (2014) How's life in your region?: measuring regional and local well-being for policy making. OECD Publishing

  • Papadimitriou E, Neves AR, Becker W (2019) JRC statistical audit of the sustainable development goals index and dashboards. Publications Office of the European Union, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs J, Schmidt-Traub G, Kroll C, Lafortune G, Fuller G, Woelm F (2021) Sustainable development report 2020: the sustainable development goals and covid-19 includes the SDG index and dashboards. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel S (1957) Nonparametric statistics. Am Stat 11(3):13–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz JE, Sen A, Fitoussi JP (2009) Report by the commission on the measurement of economic performance and social progress

  • Sutcliffe B (2004) World inequality and globalization. Oxf Rev Econ Policy 20:15–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ul Haq M (1990) About human development. Human Development Reports. UNDP. http://hdr.undp.org/en/humandev

  • UNDP (2020) United nations development programme, human development reports. Technical notes. New York. https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020_technical_notes.pdf

  • Van Zanden JL, Baten J, Mira d’Ercole M, Rijpma A, Smith C, Timmer M (2014) How was life?: global well-being since 1820. OECD publishing

  • Vecchi G (2011) In ricchezza e in poverta`. Il benessere degli Italiani dall’Unita` a oggi. Bologna: Il Mulino

  • Vecchi G (2017) Measuring wellbeing: a history of Italian living standards. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Yang F, Shiying P, Yao X (2016) Regional convergence and sustainable development in China. Sustainability 8(2):121

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Università Politecnica delle Marche & ISTAT, Piazzale Martelli Raffaele, 8, 60121, Ancona, AN, Italy

    Francesco Maria Chelli

  2. Università Politecnica delle Marche, Piazzale Martelli Raffaele, 8, 60121, Ancona, AN, Italy

    Barbara Ermini & Mauro Gallegati

  3. Università Telematica eCampus, Via Isimbardi, 10, 22060, Novedrate, CO, Italy

    Andrea Gentili

Authors
  1. Francesco Maria Chelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Barbara Ermini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mauro Gallegati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Andrea Gentili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Gentili.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chelli, F.M., Ermini, B., Gallegati, M. et al. Investigating Regional Disparities in Italy’s Well-Being Since Unification (1871–2011). Ital Econ J 9, 697–722 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40797-022-00206-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40797-022-00206-2

Keywords

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation