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Structural change and firm dynamics in the south of Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Bripi

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Raffaello Bronzini

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Elena Gentili

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Andrea Linarello

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Elisa Scarinzi

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

In this paper, we study the structural change in the Centre-North and the South of Italy, focusing on its implications for productivity dynamics and its microeconomic determinants. We document three main results. First, between 2001 and 2018 the deindustrialization process involved both parts of Italy, but in the South it started after the financial crisis and was more pronounced. In the southern regions, the employment shares in low knowledge-intensive services increased more than in the Centre-North, whereas those in the high knowledge-intensive services increased less. Second, structural changes slowed down productivity growth in the Centre-North, but had no role in the fall of productivity registered in the South. Finally, in the Centre-North employment growth has been driven by the net creation of jobs among incumbents and larger firms. In contrast, employment dynamics in the southern regions largely reflected the process of firms entering and exiting the market, in particular in less knowledge-intensive service sectors, and in young and smaller enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Bripi & Raffaello Bronzini & Elena Gentili & Andrea Linarello & Elisa Scarinzi, 2022. "Structural change and firm dynamics in the south of Italy," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 676, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
  • Handle: RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_676_22
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    structural change; firm dynamics; North-South gap; productivity growth; shift-share analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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