How Do Local Economic Structures Influence the Variability of Land Sensitivity to Degradation in Italy?

Emma Bruno (), Rosalia Castellano, Gennaro Punzo and Luca Salvati
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Emma Bruno: Department of Management and Quantitative Studies, University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, 80132 Naples, Italy
Rosalia Castellano: Department of Management and Quantitative Studies, University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, 80132 Naples, Italy
Gennaro Punzo: Department of Economic and Legal Studies, University of Naples Parthenope, Via Generale Parisi 13, 80132 Naples, Italy
Luca Salvati: Department of Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance, Faculty of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between local economic structures and environmental sensitivity in Italy, focusing on a novel indicator that estimates the spatial variability of the Environmentally Sensitive Area Index (ESAI) over time. This approach captures within-region disparities in degradation processes, addressing a key gap in the existing literature. Using a dataset covering all Italian provinces from 1960 to 2010 and considering multiple socio-economic variables, the research evaluates their impacts on ESAI variability. In particular, this study adopts a spatial autoregressive model (SAR), which allows both direct and indirect effects of selected predictors to be captured. The findings offer insights for policymakers in designing strategies to mitigate the spread of land degradation hotspots and promote strategies that balance environmental conservation with socio-economic development to ensure resource sustainability.

Keywords: land sensitivity to degradation; local indicators; socio-economic drivers; spatial analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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