Regional value added in Italy, 1891–2001, and the foundation of a long‐term picture1

This article presents value added estimates for the Italian regions, in benchmark years 1891-1951, which are linked to those from official figures available from 1971 on, in order to offer a long-term picture of Italy’s regional development. Regional activity rates and productivity are also discussed and compared. Some basic questions about Italy’s economic history are briefly considered, including the origins and extent of the north-south divide, the role of migration and regional policy in shaping the pattern of regional inequality, and the positioning of Italy in the international debate on regional convergence, where it stands out because of the long-run persistence of its disparities.