Figure 1.--This is agood example of the poverty prevalent in southen Italy. Molochio is a small town in the hills 25 miles from Reggio Calabria, Calabria region. The photo was taken in the early-1950s, the beginng of the Italian Economic Miracle. At that time, many families did not have running water at home. Here, some children are taking water from the public fountain with a donkey and a small barrel. On top of the fountain is a statue of the Virgin Mary or some saint. Someone has placed flowers. The children are barefoot, as they would be most or all of the summer, if they owened shoes at least for the winter. The girls are also taking care of a younger brother. He wears a shirt as his only clothing.

For centuries, southern Italy has been the poorest least developed area pr of Italy. This difference has persisted basically for a millennium. Economic conditions have improved substantively after World War II with the Italian Economic Miracle, but the economic and cultural disparity with the north persists and shows no sign of disappearing. There has been a historical legacy marked by extended periods foreign rule, including Byzantine, Norman, and most notably Spanish. (Sicily for a time was controlled by the Arabs.) Spain was the major country controlling southern Italy was one of the most backward country which continued feudal policies into the modern era. This is one of the major reasons that Latin America has lagged so far behind British influenced North America. Geography is an important factor. The Po River valley is he largest area of arable land. There is nothing like it in the more mountainous south. This was hugely important because agriculture until the 20 century dominated economic life. Not only does southern Italy lack broad flat areas of arable land, the south also lacks the needed water resources from which the north benefits. In modern times the water resources of the north also provide hydroelectric power. The south also faces volcanic activity and earthquakes. These are geographic constraints on the southern economy. There are a range of economic factors. Thea agricultural productivity of the north resulted in both the populations and capital formation needed for industrialization (19th century). As a result, virtually all of Italian industry is located in the north. Here ties to he broader European industrial development north of the Alps was important. Thea south because it failed to industrialize face serious unemployment problems. This led to emigration, both domestic and foreign. Many southerners migrated to northern Italy seeking decent paying jobs. Most of the large numbers of Italians emigrating to the United States came from southern Italy and Sicily. This constituted a huge brain drain. Industrialization also meant the development of much more extension basic infrastructure such as roads, bridges, a rail system, and electrification. And of course the better infrastructure attracted more new industrial projects. There were also a range of cultural issue, many related to centuries of Spanish rule. Education was a major issue. When the north funded public schools, this did no begin in the south unification (1860). This is part of the reason why illiteracy was so high in the south. There continues to be much lower academic achievement levelsin the north than the south. Religion continued to be much more much more important in the south and he north. This manta that a very conservative clergy opposed many aspects of a modern secular state. As feudal organization persisted longer in the south than the north. One impact was less trust in government authority. A large portion of the southern economy operates in the informal sector, which limits tax revenue and hinders economic growth. A substantial part of the southern economy exists in the informal sector. This affects collection of tax revenue and impacts economic growth. Corruption is also more of a problem in the south. There were a range of badly designed government policies. Italy was united by a northern monarchy and economic policies favored the north. This left the south struggling. Tourism is a major industry in Italy, but tourists primarily attracted by northern sites.

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Created: 10:38 AM 12/11/2024
Last updated: 10:38 AM 12/11/2024