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

Giulia Ferrante, Luca Buzzanca and Arsene Perrot

No 2530, Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) from Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography

Abstract: This study argues that regional development theories and policymaking have overlooked the role of local cultural characteristics and social cohesion in influencing local development through cohesion networks, proxim- ities and territorial identity. Supporting this statement through the Italian case study, we provide causal evidence from Difference-in-Differences estimates of the effect of social cohesion fostered by local cultural characteristics’ recognition in mitigating depopulation trends in peripheries after a place-based policy’s implementation. Linguistic Minorities-hosting municipalities retained 2.9 more inhabitants per 1,000 per year, a relevant but heterogeneously distributed effect with proximities-induced spillovers. This frames cultural characteristics as local public goods and policymaking tools.

Keywords: Linguistic Minorities; Local Development; Proximities; Public goods; Social Cohesion; Territorial Capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: R11 R58 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-08, Revised 2025-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo
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