Dinamica del prodotto, eterogeneità e integrazione regionale: crescita e recupero nei settori dell'economia italiana,1981-1994 (Output dynamics, heterogeneity and regional integration: growth and catching-up across the Italian economic sectors, 1981-1994)

Abstract

 The empirical tests of the convergence hypothesis conducted in the is pater evaluate the sector-specific differences in the speed of reduction of the productivity gaps across the Italian regions. Convergence of output per worker across industries and regions in 1981-94 in confirmed by means of cross section results, by panel unit root tests which detect the presence of a mean reverting component in output growth rates for the entire economy and its industrial sector, and by significant catching-up between the most productive area, Lombardia, and the other Italian regions. However, for most of the service sectors it is not possible to reject the presence of a unit root in output and the higher persistence of their output dynamics is generally associated to a velocity of reduction of the initial productivity gaps slower than the average. Regarding the industrial activities, the prevalence of a transitory component on output dynamics coexists with regional convergence in most cases, however, some manufacturing sectors evidence important permanent impulses and convergence does not hold.

JEL: O47, O52