Produttività, nuove tecnologie e divari regionali in Italia [Productivity, ICT and regional disparities in Italy]

The requirements of the current “knowledge-based economy” and the contribution of Information and Communication Technology (Ict) to socio-economic change are very likely to have a significant impact upon regional differentials in the European Union. So far, however, it is rather unclear whether the new paradigm will spur greater socioeconomic cohesion or, on the contrary, stronger territorial polarisation. This paper focuses on the distribution of Italian Ict – producing small and medium enterprises and on the relationship between some structural variables – regional location and industrial sector – and labour productivity levels. The aim is to shed some light on the role that Tic productions might have with respect to the regional divide of the Italian economy, traditionally among the most striking in the European area.