(By Michelle Ruelle).
The economic crises affecting
southern Italy could turn into permanent underdevelopment due to
a "strong risk of industrial desertification," said industrial
development association Svimez in a report on Thursday.
The report said that the lack of human resources, as well
as financial and business resources, could hamper the south from
achieving economic recovery.
The report highlighted a number of key statistics that
reveal challenges in areas such as birthrate and economic
growth.
The birthrate in southern Italy is at a 150-year low, with
174,000 births registered in 2014, the report said.
In the south, the birthrate has dropped to 1.31 children
per woman, compared to the 2.1 necessary to ensure demographic
stability.
"In the next few years the south will be affected by a
demographic upheaval, a tsunami with unpredictable
consequences," the report said.
In addition, southern Italy suffered its seventh
consecutive year of negative growth in 2014, further increasing
the gulf with the wealthier north of the country.
"(Italy is) a country divided and unequal, where the south
is adrift and sliding further and further behind," the report
read.
"In 2014 southern Italy's GDP was negative for the seventh
consecutive year (-1.3%)".
Antimafia Commission President Rosy Bindi said the
situation is an "emergency" that calls for "clear political
will".
"There isn't long-term and solid growth for Italy if a
relevant part of the country risks underdevelopment, without
work for young people and women, without investments in
essential infrastructure, without quality services for
families," Bindi said.
Stefano Graziano, Campania's regional head for the
Democratic Party (PD) led by Premier Matteo Renzi, said the
report revealed a "catastrophic situation".
"Campania is the region with the second-highest risk of
poverty. We can't remain indifferent to data that shows 66% of
families in our region earn less than 12,000 euros annually
compared to an average of 28.5% in central and northern Italy,"
Graziano said, adding that business investment is needed in the
south.
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