On Human Stupidity and Economic Policies. How Cities Inequality Generates Losses for All

This chapter addresses the Italian regional divide to show how ideologically biased economic policies have not only generated inequalities among cities but also adverse conditions that in the long term have affected the country as a whole. It expands on previous analysis on the economic policies for the South showing how the ‘new’ political debate is replicating past mistakes. Once again, vested political interests are influencing the destiny of this area, resulting in new forms of inequalities, environmental degradation, competition among cities and further economic downturn. I draw on Carlo Cipolla’s laws on human stupidity to unravel what would otherwise appear to be the obscure behaviour of several decision-makers. Cipolla’s Laws are also most stimulating for an analysis of the implications that the latter’s actions have on the broader society in terms of the relative gains or losses that they cause, and thus either adding to or detracting from the general welfare.