Abstract

growing literature tries to investigate the specific issues of cohesion policies in the Italian case. This paper is part of this trend and, starting from the evidence of the lack of convergence of southern Italy (which preceded the crisis), tries to provide some elements to focus on some both quantitative and qualitative limits related not only to the implementation but also - and this is the least explored aspect in the literature - to the general lines of this policy, and not only at national level but also at European level. The hope is that such elements may be found useful for a deep reform relaunching an essential policy for the preservation of the European integration process.