Which future for small towns? Interaction of socio-economic factors and real estate market in irpinia

In the Italian territory most of small towns, which represent about 70% of the municipalities, are characterized by “socio-economic marginality” and, among the several reasons, the negative demographic dynamics is one of the main causes. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the Irpinia district, approximately coincident with the province of Avellino, in Campania Region, for a long time subject of research at the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design of University of Campania. In this perspective, the article, starting from the strategies, tools and incentives currently available for the safeguard and valorization of these territories, highlights the socio-economic dynamics in some small municipalities of Irpinia, with particular reference to the effects on the real estate market.