Abstract There is a long-standing debate on the effect of Italian unification (1861) country’s dual development. We estimate causal impact agricultural share, literacy and railway density for South Centre-North by analyzing newly assembled panel countries/regions with synthetic control method. Our findings suggest that over 50 years following birth unified state, neither area drew generalized benefits from unification. Consolidation delayed industrialization in both macro areas. However,...

In post-Unification Italy industrialization was ever sharply sub-regional. Initially industry largely artisanal, and located in the former political capitals; factory instead attracted by waterfalls of subalpine Northwest. From 1880s, as modernization accelerated, concentrated: Lombard Piedmontese provinces with late-nineteenth century boom (protected) textiles, then particularly Turin Milan engineering boom, novel energy-transmission, belle époque; Liguria's Genoa, which captured...

This article presents estimates of industrial production in post‐Unification Italy's 69 provinces the census years 1871, 1881, 1901, and 1911. Initially industry was largely artisanal, located former political capitals; but even then waterfalls subalpine north‐west attracted what factory there was. Contrary to widespread opinion, aftermath Unification overall growth leaders were actually south, where selected reaped gains from freer foreign trade, infrastructure investment, that accompanied...

Abstract Blindfolded by a lack of earlier systematic data, comparative studies regional developments in historical Italy begin with the formation Italian state, 1861. We use literacy rates reported post-1861 population censuses combined fact that skills were usually achieved during youth to predict all way back 1821. Our analysis informs ongoing debates about origins and long-run evolution Italy’s north–south divide. By lifting veil into pre-unification past, we establish gap was substantial...

This study focuses on industrial location in Italy during the period 1871–1911, when manufacturing moved from artisanal to factory-based production processes. There is general agreement historical and economic literature that factor endowment domestic market potential represented main drivers of location. We test relative importance above for various sectors using data at provincial level. Estimation results reveal capital intensive (such as chemicals, cotton, metalmaking paper) was driven...

This paper estimates a conditional β-convergence model of labour productivity growth in Italy's manufacturing industry during 1871–1911, accounting for spatial dependence. The empirical evidence is based on recent set data at provincial (NUTS 3) level value added 1911 prices, and new human social capital, political participation, infrastructures. By focusing country time when the agglomeration forces spillover effects advocated by economic geography were only starting to operate, we can...

Abstract During the Risorgimento (1800–61), southern Italy was less industrial than central‐northern and initially agricultural provinces in north saw rapid structural transformation. Renaissance (1400–1600), transformation south led to a near halving of initial difference employment share between centre‐north south, but convergence came halt with ‘seventeenth‐century crisis’. These trends suggest that regional inequality evolving rather persistent.

This paper presents new annual estimates of railway extension in Italian provinces at 1913 borders for the period 1839-1913. The main operator network (Ferrovie dello Stato) published 1911 a unique set homogeneous historical five year maps illustrating routes existing lines during 1861-1909. These eleven were all scanned and georeferenced an ArcGIS-project. resulting database was integrated with information available sources. As second step, to allocate various sections provinces, we used...

This paper provides the first ever diachronic homogenous estimates of literacy rates in Italian provinces during period 1821-1911, by gender. The exploit age structure information reported population censuses 1881 and 1911 to back cast early 19th century. Territorial differences were already huge aftermath Napoleonic wars, with Southern regions registering extremely low levels essentially no change before unication 1861. Furthermore, rise for Northern women suggests a dimension North-South...

This paper presents statistical reconstructions of the industrial labor force in post-Unification Italy. The estimates are based on population censuses taken 1871, 1881, 1901, and 1911. figures presented for each Italy's 69 provinces, separately by gender. Industry, as is customary literature, defined so to include four major components: mining, manufacturing, construction, utilities. Manufacturing turn broken down into 12 sectors. Some limits censuses, including their questionable...

The locomotive industry was one of the relatively sophisticated “high tech” sectors in which Italy, a late industrializer, successful before 1913. Using technical data on performance different vintages locomotives, we construct new industry-level index change. We also study impact policy instruments (import duties, non-tariff trade barriers, and other discretionary interventions) shaping development industry. Our reassessment reveals not only sound technological Italian locomotives growth,...

A new method for evaluating the matric potential of gelled media has been developed. The allows derivation as a limit series measurements water values from prepared without added components, agar powders progressively cleaned mineral impurities. Three commercial brands were tested, and these was found to contribute only between 1 2% their total potential. Thermodynamic features relating osmotic potentials are described. New hypotheses understanding flux mechanism gel tissue cultured explants...

This paper investigates the main patterns of industrial specialisation in Italian provinces over half a century following Unification country. To this end, we propose multivariate graphical technique named dynamic biplot. In 1871, vocations towards different manufacturing sectors were limited size and no clear geographical clustering emerged. A regional divide resulted instead clearly 1911. 1871 as 1911, foodstuffs, textile engineering represented three pillars delimiting arena race. Within...

Italy was unified in 1861. As part of the process nation-building, a mandatory free-of-charge primary school system established. Whereas new greatly contributed to modernization country, its initial design did not considerably reduce regional disparities human capital, with Southern regions lagging behind. The paper studies effects heterogeneous territorial diffusion literacy during post-unification period (1871–1911) on economic outcomes Italian provinces 100 years later. We exploit...

In a Geographical Information System (GIS), we built complete digital geodatabase containing each railway line opened in Italy from 1839, when the first short trunk connecting Naples to Portici was opened, 1913, national network essentially completed. The data presented this paper consist of an entirely new series on extension Italian provinces (NUTS 3 level) annual bases. Given importance early infrastructural development for subsequent regional and urban growth, proposed database aims at...