Abstract

This study aims at analysing and evaluating 11 NRRP measures of significant interest for Italian cities. These measures, for which 20.5 billion were allocated in 2021-22, concern interventions of urban regeneration, on public transport networks and vehicles, on ports, judicial buildings and public residential buildings. Their characteristics, possible beneficiaries and the criteria for the allocation of resources are presented. As the allocation was based on different criteria for individual measures and it did not give any attention whatsoever to their overall impact, significant disparities emerge. As far as metropolitan cities are concerned, investments are way larger in the capitals than in the other municipalities; Rome, Naples, Turin and Milan receive lower investments, measured per capita, compared to the others. Looking at the capital cities, the disparities that emerge are even more significant. Some cities have received a considerable amount of resources; but the variance in the distribution is high: in as many as 40 capitals the amount of investment received is less than half the average – among the latter, important realities of the weakest regions, namely Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia. 38% of the total investments allocated to cities are directed to the cities of the South, with great differences between one measure and the other one according to the criteria used: but they tend to be concentrated in some of them only.