Chambers of Commerce in Italy

Abstract

This article looks at the role of the Italian chambers of commerce, examining the ways in which they contribute to local development. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of cooperation among interests as a key feature of endogenous growth. Organizations and interests which cooperate for purposes of economic intervention are seen to be particularly effective in managing growth. Italian chambers appear on the surface to have a strong potential for ‘cooperative endogenous development’. Unique among local organizations, the chambers provide an on-going structure for interaction and exchange among local economic interests. These are powerful organizations which have extensive resources and competences. Yet despite this considerable potential, we will see that the chambers do not tend to assume a prominent role in supporting economic growth. They are often confined to narrow regulatory functions and remain excluded from processes of economic innovation. The article examines the economic performance of the Italian chambers of commerce, drawing on empirical work carried out on three different chambers. It will consider why these seemingly powerful organizations do not in practice act as agencies of cooperative endogenous development.