The anti-pandemic measures cost Italians about 191 euros per month, in terms of loss of purchasing power, but the average impoverishment of a Piedmontese is even higher, equal to about 210 euros per month. The arrival of the Coronavirus, the stop of the economy and the confinement operate a squeeze on the portfolio of families. If the health crisis presents the bill, Eurostat makes it public through its data set on the value added of the regions and its impact on per capita income.
Eurostat publishes 2020 data on Gross Value Added (Val), the ability of a sector or – as in this case – of a region to create wealth. A negative figure for all European regions, and consequently Italian ones. Producing and working less inevitably means a loss of wealth and therefore of purchasing power. In other words: impoverishment. A phenomenon that in Italy spares no one. In Piedmont the Val contracted by 9.2% in one year, more than in Italy as a whole (-8.7%), and the fourth week became an increasingly widespread problem.
At the end of 2019, before the economy stopped, it is estimated that on average the income of each Italian reached € 30,100, a ceiling that fell to € 27,800 at the end of 2020. Each citizen saw € 2,300 go up in smoke, which is the same, always in average values, to a reduction of 191.60 euros per month. Looking strictly at the Piedmontese figure, in Piedmont the impoverishment is also above average. Eurostat calculates an annual per capita income which fell from € 31,900 to € 29,400 in the same reference period. Covid costs 2,500 per resident in just one year, which translates into 208.33 euros less in availability every month.
In a common destiny that spares no region, the meager consolation for Piedmont is offered by the macro-regional data. If the average impoverishment of a Piedmontese is higher than the national average, it is lower than the average of north-western Italy. There is also the north-west figure in Eurostat calculations. Here alone, the pandemic and confinement had an impact for a total of 2,900 euros, i.e. a monthly loss of 241.65 euros.
What is certain is that Covid translates into malaise, economic as well as health. In Piedmont as in the rest of Italy, also in the light of these latest data, efficient implementation of the recovery plan and correct use of European funds becomes crucial. Pandemic and related closures permitting.