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FrancoAngeli Journals

Papers

No. 4 (2021)

Economic crisis and firm birth rates in Italy (2008-2019): what role for metropolitan regions?

  • FrancoAngeli Journals
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/rgioa4-2021oa12958
Submitted
novembre 19, 2021
Published
2021-12-03

Abstract

The creation of new firms is an important aspect of entrepreneurship and an indicator of the economic vitality of territories. This article analyses the trend in firm birth rates in Italy over the period 2008-2019, using data from the Infocamere-Movimprese register. The Great Recession led to a decline in birth rates measured as the ratio of new enterprises
to the working-age population. However, in Italy, unlike other countries, the downward trajectory continued after 2013, despite the economic recovery. Many intermediate and rural areas have fallen back in favour of the metropolitan regions. Although strong overall, the latter have different performances and profiles, both between the North and South of the country and within the two geographical macro-areas.

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