Effetti spaziali o settoriali? La crescita della dimensione media d'impresa in Italia

Using a recent version of the spatial shift-share, we decompose in this article the change of the average firm size in the Italian provinces into components of spatial (regional and neighboring level) and sectoral nature. The analysis, carried out with reference to the period 2004-2009, points out relevant differences in relation to which size class is taken into account. In particular, it emerges an evident divide North-South in the provincial distribution of the spatial and sectoral effects when we consider the micro-firms (1-10 employees), while the geography seems to be more complex for the small-firms (11-50 employees).