Abstract

In a world even more and more subject to rapid changes and increasing rate of globalisation, the success of nations, communities and individuals crucially depends on the capacity on how they respond and adapt themselves to changes, learn and share knowledge. On this basis, the article analyses the relationship between social and human capital distribution and economic performances of Italian Regions in the last decade (1991-2002). It shows how human and social capital are strong mutually reinforcing, and how they fully contribute, with their interaction, to strengthen social and economic growth and could be positively used in order to explain territorial inequalities among areas over the country.