ABSTRACT
This paper provides a descriptive analysis of the trends and the main components of public support for agriculture in Italy over the two decades (2000-2019) preceding the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. For this analysis, the wealth of highly informative data contained in the CREA database "Agricultural expenditure of the Regions" was used. This is the most up-todate and consistently available source of information on public spending in agriculture, with regional details that distinguish it from other official statistical sources. Overall public support for the agriculture sector in the period under consideration decreased by over EUR 4 billion (from EUR 15,613 billion in 2000 to just below EUR 12 billion in 2019). The share of support in agricultural added value has also decreased: from 55% in 2000 to about 34% in 2019. Looking at the individual categories of support (EU CAP 1st and 2nd pillar funds, tax and social security reliefs, State transfers and regional funds) included in the analysis, it is clear that this decrease was due to the halving of tax and social security reliefs (from 26.6% to 15.8%), and the significant reduction in the support provided by the budgets of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces (from over 4 billion euros in 2000 to 1,7 billion euros in 2019). To this must be added a reduction in government contributions (from 4.3% to 4.1%). As a result, EU support was consequently stable in the first decade and increased in the last ten years (from 43.1% in 2000 to 63.9% in 2019). This analysis highlights the various support models derived from each Region's particular production and politicaladministrative situations. © 2022 Franco Angeli Edizioni. All rights reserved.