The Alps

The North Italian Plain

The Apennines

The Industrial TriangleThe Industrial Triangle•Turin

The North Industrial Triangle

The North Industrial The North Industrial Triangle – why locate Triangle – why locate

industry here?industry here? Flat land – easy to build onFlat land – easy to build on Excellent communications with other Italian Excellent communications with other Italian

cities and the rest of Europecities and the rest of Europe Large labour force which is skilled and educatedLarge labour force which is skilled and educated

What types of industry are located here?What types of industry are located here? FashionFashion Cars e.g. FiatCars e.g. Fiat ElectronicsElectronics BankingBanking TourismTourism NewspapersNewspapers

So what type of employment So what type of employment is there in the North of is there in the North of

Italy?Italy?Employment in the North of Italy

4%

44%52%

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Primary =

Farming in the Northern Italian Plain

•Rivers flowing from the Alps and the Apennines carry lots of silt down to the North Italian Plain making it very fertile.

•The rivers provide plenty of water for crops and sometimes break their banks depositing material onto the plain-this is called a flood plain.

•The land is very flat so using large machinery is easy to use

•Good transport links to European markets

Less extremes of temperatures than in the dry, hot south favours the growth of rice, cereal and vegetable crops

Italy’s populationItaly’s population The North of Italy is very crowded – over The North of Italy is very crowded – over

200 people per km200 people per km² - this is called ² - this is called population density i.e. the number of population density i.e. the number of people in a given areapeople in a given area

The North of Italy has the largest citiesThe North of Italy has the largest cities It has a much larger population that the It has a much larger population that the

south of Italysouth of ItalyWhy is the North of Italy more populated?Why is the North of Italy more populated?This relates to all of the factors we have This relates to all of the factors we have

discussed so fardiscussed so far1.1.The land on the North Italian Plain is very The land on the North Italian Plain is very

flat so building here is very easyflat so building here is very easy2.2.There are lots of jobs hereThere are lots of jobs here3.3.The climate provides rain all year round so The climate provides rain all year round so

farming is good here. This is also due to farming is good here. This is also due to the fact that the soil is very fertilethe fact that the soil is very fertile

The Mezzogior

no

So what type of employment So what type of employment is there in the South of is there in the South of

Italy?Italy?Employment in the South of Italy

21%

27%

52%

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Agriculture is the main employer in the isolated villages in the hills – poor level of income. Drought and poor soils make farming difficult. Farmers cannot afford to invest in new machinery

Periphery of EuropePeriphery of Europe•The South of Italy lies on the periphery of Europe in terms of economic development

•Steep slopes of the Apennines have limited the building of good quality roads and railways connecting it to the wealthy markets of the North

•Lack of raw materials and energy supply

• This has led to limited industrial development in the south

•Tourism is important in some areas

•Out-migration has been a major problem but fewer migrate now

Help for the SouthHelp for the South Regional AidRegional Aid 1986 law to encourage private investment 1986 law to encourage private investment

by offering grants loans and tax incentivesby offering grants loans and tax incentives Fiat took up these offers and now produces Fiat took up these offers and now produces

more in the south than the northmore in the south than the north EU funds for agriculture and industry. EU funds for agriculture and industry.

Coastal marshes drained and irrigation Coastal marshes drained and irrigation systems set upsystems set up

Strict security needed as crime is so highStrict security needed as crime is so high Tourism has become a focus for new Tourism has become a focus for new

investmentinvestment

Cassa per il MezzogiornoCassa per il Mezzogiorno(Cash for the South)(Cash for the South)

Launched in 1950’sLaunched in 1950’s Jointly funded by Italian Government Jointly funded by Italian Government

and Common Market (former EU)and Common Market (former EU) 3 reforms aimed at agriculture3 reforms aimed at agriculture- Absentee landlords estates split upAbsentee landlords estates split up- Growth poles set up for hopeful Growth poles set up for hopeful

multiplier effectmultiplier effect- Roads and railways built for better Roads and railways built for better

communications communications

Success?Success? Mezzogiorno continues to lag behind the Mezzogiorno continues to lag behind the

rest of Italyrest of Italy Limited success for over 50 years of Limited success for over 50 years of

targeting fundstargeting funds Disparities between north and south Disparities between north and south

wideningwidening Quality of life has improved for those in the Quality of life has improved for those in the

southsouth Rate of change very slowRate of change very slow Many continue to migrate to the north and Many continue to migrate to the north and

other EU countriesother EU countries

Why did it fail?Why did it fail?

IsolationIsolation Oil price rise of 1974 and rationalizationOil price rise of 1974 and rationalization Industry is either large state-owned or Industry is either large state-owned or

small family –ownedsmall family –owned Physical environment not favourable to Physical environment not favourable to

agricultureagriculture Administration from central government Administration from central government

poorpoor Corruption and organised crimeCorruption and organised crime