Dynamics of urban growth: Italy, 1951–2011

Abstract

This paper presents some evidence on the dynamics of population across Italian locations (municipalities and LLMs) over the period 1951–2011. We find that population shifted from initially smaller to relatively larger locations. The growth rate of very large urban areas was particularly intense in the post-war period, while it became slower in the last two decades. Population dynamics in the post-war period are related to structural change away from agriculture; sectoral diversification and—to a lesser extent—human capital represent an important determinant of city growth in the last two decades.