Policies for Local Development: An Evaluation of Italy's 'Patti Territoriali'

Abstract

In Italy, Patti Territoriali (Territorial Pacts) are one of the main government-sponsored programmes to foster growth in disadvantaged areas. A territorial pact is an agreement among the local authorities and representatives of civil society (mainly entrepreneurs and trade unions) of a number of neighbouring municipalities that is subsequently endorsed by the central government. It consists in a fully-fledged development plan, including a series of private and public investments for which public funding is provided. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of territorial pacts by comparing the economic performance, in terms of employment and number of plants, of participating municipalities with a sample of municipalities not involved in the policy. The results suggest that the programme has been largely ineffective in stimulating growth.

Keywords: regional aid, regional growth, ownership

JEL Classification: R0, H2