Milano it is the "richest" province in Italy, at least in terms of added value per capita. Last year the Lombardy capital reached 55.483 euros, almost double the national average (29.703) and three and a half times higher than that generated by Agrigento (15.665 euros), Italy's black jersey. However, thanks to the increase in raw material prices, it was Potenza the province that ran the most in 2022 compared to 2021, improved by 20 positions, with an increase in added value of 16,4% against the national average of 6,9% at current prices, followed by Bolzano (+ 12,4%), Trento (+ 11,8%), Matera (+ 11,5%) and Valle d'Aosta (10,9%).
This is what emerges from the analysis carried out by Tagliacarne Study Center e Unioncamere on the provincial added value of 2022 which is one of the traditional measurement activities of the local economy carried out by the chamber system.
North and South still distant, but something is moving
The geographical breakdown of added value highlights differences that still exist between the North part and South. The 2022 per capita added value ranking is led by three northern provinces, with Milano in the lead (55.483 euros), followed by Bolzano (49.177) and Bologna (41.737). And you have to scroll to the 47th place to find the first province belonging to the South. While the last 32 positions are all occupied by southern provinces. But in just four years, between 2019 and 2022, several southern provinces stood out for having made significant leaps forward. Among the top 10 provinces that show the most significant advances beyond Potenza Toast e Matera which have displaced the ranking by 7 positions.
Florence is still chasing pre-Covid levels
At a sector level, double-digit growth was noted in particular in correspondence with construction (10,4%), also due to the 110% Superbonus, and the services (+10,6%), while theindustry strictly speaking it grows by 9,5%. Looking at pre-Covid, only a Florence the added value produced still remains below pre-pandemic levels, recording a decline of 4,7% in 2022 compared to 2019, but is growing by 8,8% compared to 2021. While extending the horizon to the last decade, between 2012 and 2022, it is above all the "younger", more "industrialized", more structured and export-oriented provinces that show greater vigor.
The comment by Andrea Prete (President of Unioncamere)
“The analysis of provincial levels of development highlights how one of the factors of success and resilience also at a territorial level is represented by having multiple engines of growth. In particular, looking at the provincial performances, two seem to be the most relevant: a solid and interconnected industrial system and an ability to attract and grow the service chain linked to tourism", declared the president of Unioncamere Andrew Priest who underlined: “all this was accompanied by the good performance of the construction industry, a significant part of which however was also linked to the incentive measures. The opening to international markets then proved to be a decisive driving factor. In a phase of slowdown affecting the European economy we must therefore enhance these characteristics in order to continue to compete successfully".
