The development and impact of migration in the Italian economy with an emphasis on North-South differences

The aim of the thesis is to find out how migration affects the Italian economy and what role the differences between the North and the South can play. The thesis provides a theoretical framework concerning different approaches to explain the causes of migration and its subsequent economic and non-economic impacts. This is followed by an analytical part which, according to the available data, identifies the macroeconomic situation in Italy, the main economic differences between North and South and the specific impacts. In addition to the analysis, the methods of research and synthesis were used. The thesis shows that migration has not had as a great an impact on Italy as is often presented in the media. The North is a much more frequent destination of migration due to its maturity and economic strength, while in the South only Sicily is of importance, with migrants mainly from the African continent. Furthermore, the illusion that migrants abuse the welfare system and severely worsen the economy of the whole of Italy has been dispelled. If non-economic factors are included, large-scale migration can lead to instability in society and a rise in the popularity of extremist parties.