Economics seminar: Land redistribution and industrial development: evidence from Italy

Event Date: 5 March 2014

Marco Percocco,
Assistant Professor,
Bocconi University

Time: 16.15-17.30

Dept. of Economics

Rm 2.11 Architecture Bldg

Abstract:

The role of wealth inequality for local development has long been neglected, although some literature has pointed out its relevance in explaining entrepreneurial and education investment. Among the typologies of assets composing individuals’ wealth, land is of paramount importance in underdeveloped economies specialised in agriculture. Land reforms in terms of redistribution of land ownership are hence expected to boost development through an increase in entrepreneurship rate and human capital stock. In this paper, I consider and reform in Italy which took place in 1950s in some specific areas all across the country. By adopting an Oaxaca-Blinder regression method and using data at city-level on the implementation of the reform for three areas, I have found a positive impact of land redistribution on human capital accumulation and a less significant impact on employment and firm location.

Published: 30 January 2014