How did the unification of Italy intensify economic differences between northern and southern regions?

Following the unification of Italy in 1861, the economic divide between the north and the south intensified due to structural differences and government policies that favored northern industrialization.12

• Industrial Concentration: Economic growth became heavily concentrated in the northwestern "industrial triangle" of Lombardy, Liguria, and Piedmont. This region benefited from hydroelectricity, modern metalworking, and the rise of the automobile industry, such as Fiat.1
• Southern Stagnation: The south remained largely agrarian and was severely impacted by tariff wars, particularly with France, which hindered its exports of wine, olive oil, and fruit.1
• Policy Inequities: While the government eventually introduced "special laws" and development funds like the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno to stimulate the south, these efforts often failed to create sustainable growth, resulting in expensive, capital-intensive projects that lacked local integration.13
• Social Impact: The resulting poverty triggered mass emigration from the south, while the north experienced internal migration toward its expanding industrial cities.13