How Immigration Can Reduce Income Inequalities and Mitigate Economic Imbalances: The Italian Case

A number of scholars are currently arguing that migration may have an important role in the reduction of these inequalities. It has happened before and it may also happen in the future, as it is possible and desirable. However, migration in itself does not resolve the issue of the inequalities. At most, it would shift it forward, because redistribution through immigration does not exempt from previously creating a basic set of rules and institutions aimed at stimulating a major cooperation by countries to change the legal management systems of migration and correct their redistributive effects. In light of these studies, the need for additional in depth research on the impact of immigration on regional disparities and income inequalities has become evident, especially in the long run. The present paper moves, therefore, in this direction, focusing on the regional impact of internal migration and attempting to demonstrate, with reference to the Italian case, how out-migration can increase income inequalities, thus hindering economic growth, while immigration can reduce income inequalities and mitigate economic imbalances. From a juridical point of view, we study the regional restrictions related to residence workers protection, the free movement of European workers and the welfare benefits for migrants.