Even before the global crisis, the Italian economy was in difficulties internationally, but slow growth and a declining share of world trade were accompanied by a perceptible process of manufacturing transformation. This paper, using data from the Bank of Italy's survey of manufacturers,...

This paper aims at analysing the role of institutional factors in fostering the agglomeration of SMEs in Italian industrial districts. The main findings are: the availability of strong family institutions and a social environment reducing individual opportunism have played a significant role in...

This paper analyzes the local determinants of producer service growth in Italy, focusing on agglomeration economies, and taking into account the particular features of this sector with respect to manufacturing. Using an OECD classification, we estimate a dynamic specification allowing for...