Abstract

The study determines the activities undertaken by Italian municipal administrations during the period 2000-2012 by issuing new building permits, collecting real estate taxes and the revenue from issue of building permits, and, finally, constructing urbanization works related to the urban expansion for residential purposes or for non-agricultural production activities. The study thus verifies how fiscal policies implemented in Italy at local level have affected, also during much of the «great recession» (i) the expansion of urban areas in Italy and (ii) the realisation of their public infrastructures.