Structural change and development in the Italian South as a matter of systemic interest

This article argues that structural change and economic development in the Italian South are a matter of «systemic interest» for the national economy and society: they are necessary conditions for the pursuit of economic and social objectives not only at the national level, but also on the part of all regions and political-economic groups. Reflecting on the «SVIMEZ 2020 Report on the Economy and Society in the Italian South», the article uses categories of Structural Political Economy and considers fundamental aspects of the current international context. It shows that structural change and economic development in the Italian South are necessary conditions for improving the resilience of the Italian economy as a whole, for strengthening Italy’s positioning within the European Union, and for addressing the risks and opportunities entailed by the renewed centrality of the Mediterranean.