The public spending for culture in the face of decentralization processes and economic recession: the case of Italy

This Chapter analyses the evolution of public spending for culture, in front of institutional changes, specifically decentralization processes, and fiscal consolidation policies, taking Italy over the period 1996-2012 as a case study. The case of Italy is representative of the top-down, state-driven model of public support to culture, even if increased autonomy has been attributed to local subjects in recent times. We pay attention to the role of different government layers and to differences across regions, with a focus on what happened during the years of the so-called ‘Great Recession’ (2008-12). Particular aspects of spending for culture, as compared to the whole of public spending, do emerge, as well as the link with the dynamics of aggregate income.