The Madonie Misalignment: participatory budgeting insights on PNRR funded measures

This paper examines the alignment of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan investments with the foundational needs of the Madonie region, Sicily, amidst challenges like brain drain and depopulation. Leveraging Participatory Budgeting and “The City We Need Now” principles, our research assesses whether PNRR-funded local policies effectively address critical areas such as health and well-being, learning and innovation, housing, services, and mobility. A unique survey among the Madonie community reveals a discrepancy between these crucial needs and the current focus of PNRR investments, which are predominantly aimed at enhancing tourism. This misalignment risks exacerbating social desertification by potentially accelerating migration from the region. The study highlights the urgency of re-eval- uating investment priorities to foster sustainable, inclusive growth and proposes further investigation into innovative health solutions like telemedicine to address the rural health crisis.