Regional development and construction in Italy: an input-output analysis, 1959-1992

Using two sets of input-output tables, this paper analyses the role of the construction sector in the North and South regions of Italy, from 1959 to 1992. As expected, the sector has had differing impacts on the two regional economies over the years. In the highly developed North its importance has been declining, similarly to the case of other highly developed countries. In the less developed South, instead, construction has a relatively higher propulsive role in the creation of goods and income. This role is significantly diminished since most of the construction inputs are imported. Some differences are reported in the sector's input and output profiles of the two regions. From the technological and organizational points of view, in the South construction projects appear to be less complex than those in the North.