The Role of Metallurgy in the Regional Development of Campania (Italy) in the 20th Century

Abstract

The problem of growing regional disparities in Italy observed since the 19th century influenced the government’s decision to start investing money in the industrial development of the poorer, Southern regions of the country. The late 19th and early 20th century represented a period in which the economic development was mainly based on steel production. The foundation of the Ilva steelworks in 1910 in the Gulf of Pozzuoli caused a great decrease in the unemployment rate and boosted the development of the whole region. Such a big enterprise increased the economic role of Naples and when it was closed down at the beginning of the 1990s, a lot of people were forced to leave the South of Italy. There were also ecological problems (soil contamination, water pollution). The aim of this article is to analyse the decisions made at the beginning of the 20th century which led to the foundation of the metallurgical plant in Bagnoli. The main aspects taken into consideration are the economic and industrial development factors in the context of the increasing regional disproportions in Italy, as well as the ecological actions taken with regards to tourism development.