Paying for the First Italian Motorways (1923-1941)

The origins of the European motorway network date back to the beginning of the century, but it was only after World War I that these projects were regarded with greater interest in several European countries. This chapter discusses how the construction of the first European motorways took place in Italy between the two wars, thanks to direct state intervention or through concessionaries that were still widely supported by the public authority, according to a scheme that would substantially be repeated in the second half of the century. The Italian experience between the two wars is of particular interest due to the precocity of motorways and the close partnership between public and private capital. The main objective of this chapter is thus to evaluate this interaction in motorway financing, trying to provide an interpretation of the long-term effectiveness of the provisions.