Speaking Ourselves Closer: Linguistic Minorities, Social Cohesion and Local Development

Giulia Ferrante (), Gran Sasso Science Institute Buzzanca () and Gran Sasso Science Institute Perrot ()
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Giulia Ferrante: Gran Sasso Science Institute
Gran Sasso Science Institute Buzzanca: Gran Sasso Science Institute
Gran Sasso Science Institute Perrot: Gran Sasso Science Institute

No 2024-15, Discussion Paper series in Regional Science & Economic Geography from Gran Sasso Science Institute, Social Sciences

Abstract: Local development and depopulation are critical issues for peripheral areas in various countries, addressed through differing policies with varying success. In this study, we provide evidence that social cohesion significantly influences local development through cohesion networks and territorial identity. The Italian case serves as an ideal one for this analysis, with its specific place-based policy and officially recognised linguistic minorities, a good proxy for social cohesion. These unique characteristics allow us to apply Difference-in-Differences and Regression Discontinuity designs estimating the causal effect of social cohesion in boosting local development and mitigating depopulation trends in peripheries. Our results indicate that municipalities hosting linguistic minorities retain 3.2 more inhabitants per 1,000 over 2002-2020, a relevant but heterogeneously distributed effect which produces local spillovers through proximities. Our findings suggest local cultural characteristics to be important policymaking tools with positive externalities on local development patterns

Keywords: Linguistic Minorities; Local Development; Policy Evaluation; Public goods; Social Cohesion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H41 J15 R1 R11 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42 pages
Date: 2024-12, Revised 2024-12
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ahy:wpaper:wp59

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