La parabola della regione imprenditrice nel settore dello sviluppo industriale: i casi di “E.S.P.I.” e di “E.M.S.”*

The article examines the evolution of the “entrepreneurial region” model in post-war Sicily, focusing on the cases of the Sicilian Agency for Industrial Promotion (E.S.P.I.) and the Sicilian Mining Agency (E.M.S.). After reconstructing the historical and legal framework that led to the creation of regional financial institutions, the study explores the role of public intervention in the economy as a tool for industrial promotion and territorial balance. It highlights the gradual failure of these initiatives—mainly due to politicization, bureaucracy, and the absence of a coherent development strategy—culminating in the liquidation and privatization processes of the 1990s. Finally, the author reflects on the contemporary relevance of public intervention in regional economic governance, between efficiency, social cohesion, and sustainable development.