Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Public Expenditure in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano

Thanks to its extensive fiscal powers and its longstanding commitment to monitoring the effectiveness of public policies, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano can draw on a time-series of data from the Conti Pubblici Territoriali (CPT – Territorial Public Accounts) that makes it possible to assess in depth the evolution and impact of local public spending. Yet the absence of an integrated, up-to-date analysis that is comparable with the national framework makes it difficult to detect weaknesses and opportunities in good time.

The Project

The Provincial Institute of Statistics (ASTAT) and the Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK-IRVAPP) have entered into an institutional partnership to develop a qualitative–quantitative reading model of provincial public expenditure for the years 2018-2023, disaggregated by funding body, mission, economic classification and phase (pre-pandemic 2018-2019, pandemic 2020-2021, post-pandemic 2022-2023). Drawing on CPT data and on the regionalisation of State expenditure produced by the State General Accounting Office, the study will compare provincial figures with national data and with other territorially areas.

The findings will be presented in one or more final reports containing: (i) appropriate comparisons with national figures and/or with other geographical areas, together with the data on the regionalisation of State expenditure published by the State General Accounting Office; (ii) thematic focuses, for example on spending for future generations (e.g. education, research, innovation, sustainability, pension impacts); (iii) proposals to improve efficiency and re-qualify public spending, along with impact assessments of alternative allocation solutions.