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Sovereignty, Civic Capital, and Local Development. A Historical Perspective in Economic Geography

Author

Listed:
  • MATTIA BALESTRA
  • GIULIO CAINELLI
  • ROBERTO GANAU
  • NADIIA MATSIUK
  • MARIO PASQUATO
  • ROBERTO PIERDICCA

Abstract

We combine history with economic geography to contribute shading light on the long-run determinants of territorial development differentials in Italy. Specifically, we study the effects of historical sovereignty change on current local economic development. We measure historical sovereignty change through the yearly number of changes in sovereignty occurred in the period 1000–1861⎯that is, until the unification of Italy⎯and assess its effects on labor productivity in 2018. We estimate a negative effect of historical sovereignty change on current local economic development, and identify⎯both theoretically and empirically⎯civic capital as a plausible underlying mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Mattia Balestra & Giulio Cainelli & Roberto Ganau & Nadiia Matsiuk & Mario Pasquato & Roberto Pierdicca, 2025. "Sovereignty, Civic Capital, and Local Development. A Historical Perspective in Economic Geography," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2504, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Feb 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:egu:wpaper:2504
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    File URL: http://econ.geo.uu.nl/peeg/peeg2504.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    Historical sovereignty change; civic capital; local economic development; Italy;
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