Internal Borders and Population Geography in the Unification of Italy

Valeria Rueda and Brian A'Hearn

No 14604, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We examine the economic impact of Italian unification from a micro-geographical perspective, asking whether the abolition of internal borders caused a redistribution of economic activity towards the former border zones, which now enjoyed improved market access. We construct a new geocoded dataset of municipal (comune) populations from the pre-unification period through to 1871. Using a difference-in-differences approach and controlling for a variety of geographic correlates including elevation and distances to ports, railway lines, and large cities, we find robust evidence of a relative acceleration in population growth - our proxy for economic activity - in comuni near the former internal borders, consistent with our market access hypothesis.

Keywords: Border effects; Economic history; Economic integration; Italy; Political unification; 19th century; Spatial inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J6 N33 N93 R12 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-gro, nep-his and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Journal Article: Internal Borders and Population Geography in the Unification of Italy (2023)
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