[ciguy]

Technological hubs don't "just happen" to not be in Southern Europe. I'm American but also hold Italian citizenship and have lived in Italy and Spain. The regulatory environment around finance, labor and business makes any kind of scalable technical hub impossible. Starting a business generally takes many months and thousands of Euros. Why would anyone opt for that instead of going to the UK where you can get started in days with a 50 pound fee.

Corruption and graft at every level of government is also an issue. Southern Italy still has businesses being bombed by Mafia affiliated gangs for example if they don't pay protection money (This happened to several places I frequent last year when I lived in Napoli). Until Southern Europe reforms culturally they will continue to lag further and further behind and all the smart young people will go to places more welcoming of their talents.

[kevinstubbs]

I agree with your overall arguments.

However, I did take issue with one point. It's unfair to use Mafia bombings in Napoli as a reflection of all Southern Italy when Napoli is a notoriously dangerous area and has been at times even considered the most dangerous city in all of Western Europe. I'm sure you understand this, having lived in Napoli, but I think it unfairly characterizes daily life in Southern Italy for unfamiliar readers.

[ciguy]

That's a fair criticism, I certainly didn't mean to insinuate that this happens everywhere in Italy. Various mafia organizations are most definitely active outside of Napoli in various small Italian towns, though they may not be as violent. Tourists are incredibly unlikely to ever have an issue but locals are affected more.