Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Davide Piacentino Title: Productivity, Infrastructures and Convergence: Panel Data Evidence on Italian Regions Abstract: Productivity, Infrastructures and Convergence: Panel Data Evidence on Italian Regions Department of Statistics and Mathematics for Economic Research University of Naples Parthenope* Abstract The paper first employs the Growth Accounting methodology in order to calculate the annual levels of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in Italian regions for the period 1970-2001. The main result of this initial analysis is that the well-known gap in labour productivity among Italian regions depends mostly on the differences in TFP. The paper then investigates on the presence (or absence) of regional convergence in TFP over the period considered. To this end, physical and social infrastructures are taken into account as factors that influence the process of convergence. Finally, the paper finds a significant effect of both types of infrastructure on regional convergence in TFP, which is estimated to occur over the whole time period at the rate of 11%. Keywords: Total Factor Productivity, Infrastructures, Regional Convergence JEL classification: O47, R11, C23 Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:5-26 Volume: 2008/2 Year: 2008 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=33747&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:scresc:v:html10.3280/Scre2008-002001 Number: 1 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Eleonora Bartoloni Title: Small Area Estimation and the Labour Market in Lombardy?s Industrial Districts: a Methodological Approach Abstract: Small Area Estimation and the Labour Market in Lombardy?s Industrial Districts: a Methodological Approach The aim of this study is to provide estimates of employment and unemployment for Lombardy?s industrial districts, which are under-represented in the Italian Labour Force Survey. The adoption of direct estimators should give rise to large standard errors owing to the small sample size of the areas investigated. The adoption of indirect estimators, which are crucially based on larger sample sizes, is a necessary step in order to produce more efficient estimations at the local area level. The results indicate that closer attention should be paid to unemployment both by introducing model-based estimations and by adopting more suitable auxiliary variables at the local area level. Keywords: Small Area Estimation, Industrial Districts JEL Classification Codes: C15, C42, R23 Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:27-54 Volume: 2008/2 Year: 2008 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=33748&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:scresc:v:html10.3280/Scre2008-002002 Number: 2 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pierluigi Sacco Author-Name: Vittorio Carlei Author-Name: Massimiliano Nuccio Author-Name: Massimo Buscema Title: La complessit? strutturale dei distretti industriali: un approccio basato sulle similarit? multi-dimensionali Abstract: La complessit? strutturale dei distretti industriali: un approccio basato sulle similarit? multi-dimensionali Structural complexity in industrial districts: a multi-dimensional similarity approach. This study analyses spatial agglomerations starting from the premise that their intrinsic socio-economic complexity is a crucial factor in the shaping of local development paths. With the help of a family of artificial neural networks known as Self-organising Maps (SOM), the study obtains an original mapping of productive agglomerations in Italy, and thereby a characterization that goes beyond the notion of specialization and rests on the idea of multi-dimensional similarity in the distribution of resources. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:55-86 Volume: 2008/2 Year: 2008 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=33749&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:scresc:v:html10.3280/Scre2008-002003 Number: 3 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Maria Carla Congia Author-Name: Silvia Pacini Author-Name: Francesca Ceccato Title: Differenziali retributivi regionali nelle piccole imprese italiane: il ruolo delle imprese artigiane Abstract: Differenziali retributivi regionali nelle piccole imprese italiane: il ruolo delle imprese artigiane Istat, Istituto Nazionale di Statistica* The role of Craft Activities in the Regional Wage Differentials within Small Italian Firms. The study analyses Italian craft firms because of their traditional and significant role among small firms in the Italian economy. A gap in statistical data on craft firm?s wages exists, in particular at a regional detail, despite their economic importance in the Italian labour market. This gap has become more evident since the extension of the competences of the regional level of wage bargaining. The study seeks to remedy this information gap by using the administrative data of the Italian Social Security National Institute (Inps), processed by the Istat Oros survey on employment, wages and social contributions. Taking account of the database?s information capacity, the study analyses the features that distinguish craft firms from other small firms (up to 40 employees). Special attention is paid to analysis of wage differentials between employees in craft activities and those in other small firms, in particular at regional level. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:87-111 Volume: 2008/2 Year: 2008 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=33750&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:scresc:v:html10.3280/Scre2008-002004 Number: 4 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Stefano Moroni Title: La questione del governo del territorio tra fatti e valori Abstract: Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:113-137 Volume: 2008/2 Year: 2008 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=33751&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:scresc:v:html10.3280/Scre2008-002005 Number: 5 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: n.d. Title: Recensioni Abstract: Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:139-144 Volume: 2008/2 Year: 2008 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=33752&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:scresc:v:html10.3280/Scre2008-002006 Number: 6