Persistent Core–Periphery Innovation Dynamics in Italy: Evidence against Long-Run Convergence
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between economic growth, agglomeration, and innovation within the framework of endogenous growth theory and economic geography. Building on Philippe Martin's theoretical approach, the paper examines how the spatial concentration of economic activities influences innovation dynamics and regional development. The study pursues two main objectives: first, to measure the spatial distribution of innovation across Italian regions; second, to assess whether regional dynamics between 2021 and 2023 indicate convergence or confirm the persistence of core–periphery asymmetries. The empirical analysis uses national and macro-regional data from Eurostat, including GDP at current market prices, a measure of agglomeration, and Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a proxy for innovation intensity. The relationships among these variables are explored through descriptive and graphical analysis, as well as convergence tests and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The results show that, although Italy experienced economic growth and a moderate increase in agglomeration during the period under consideration, innovation intensity remained largely stagnant. Significant regional disparities persist, with the Northern and Central regions maintaining higher innovation levels than Southern Italy and the Islands. Overall, the findings suggest that recent regional dynamics show only limited signs of convergence, while confirming the persistence of a core–periphery spatial structure in the Italian economy.
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