The Italian National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI): A Critical Analysis of the Indicator Grid

The National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI) is a public policy designed to tackle depopulation in inner areas, defined according the distance from centers offering essential services. Such policy’s success crucial address new challenges planning brought light by COVID-19 pandemic. In this sense, there need adequately support its implementation providing handy decision tools, understanding power balances among municipalities, and defining proper interventions. Indicator Grid, already used SNAI project areas selection, can answer need. However, Grid’s application at municipality level requires reviewing some of features, such as indicators’ large number impossibility them municipal scale. Based on these premises, paper aims supporting policies carrying out critical analysis current aimed improving effectiveness. It relies hybrid methodology that merges qualitative data interpretations statistical analyses. Thanks method, parsimonious Grid leaving complexity information untouched possible. so-defined set indicators represent valuable reference tool pinpointing priorities actions or selecting further territorial scopes perspective, even if it still brings criticalities be faced.