Flessibilità del lavoro, segmentazione sociale e sviluppo del Mezzogiorno

In political debates on the development of the Mezzogiorno it has frequently argued that the particular “backwardness” of the regional socio-economic context could work as a passepartout to the post-industrial age. In this article we discuss this topic, with special reference to four related questions: (1) the historical connections between “regular”, “flexible” and “informal” economy in Southern and Northern Italy; (2) the impact of recent changes in labour relations on the amount and structure of employment in Southern regions; (3) the role probably played by greater work flexibility on social structure and the political arena; (4) the consequences of work flexibility on personal life in a relatively “backward” context. Our conclusions are that the empirical evidence available seems not to confirm optimistic political judgements on the impact of post-industrial transition on Mezzogiorno. Quite the contrary seems to be true: according also to the historical record, the recent socio-economic changes are likely not to benefit primarily Southern regions, but more developed areas; in turn, they are likely to add new social problems to the old ones, and to enlarge social cleavages never filled by the industrial growth.