Approfondimento

Governet Project - Work Package n. 3
Results

"Vie del gusto" Project Area
Analysis of spatial, socio-economic and Institutional impacts - Synthesis

Authors: Luca Ciresola, Giuliano Zanon
COSES - Consorzio per la Ricerca e la Formazione
May 2005

Translation by a&b servizi linguistici s.r.l., Padova

Introduction

The social context

"Vie del gusto" Project Area. Surface of municipalities of Campagna Lupia and Mirano

Source: COSES elaboration

The biggest town inside is Campagna Lupia with 87.7 km² (against 45.6 km² of Mirano). The first one is located south of the chieftown and faces the lagoon slope. It therefore includes vast areas of water and lands subject to the extension of the tides (open lagoon about 33 km²), and a part of the closed lagoon (about 24 km²), for fish rearing.
Compared to Campagna Lupia, Mirano is much more a bigger (26 thousand against about 6 thousand). Considering the smaller land surface, the first has a considerably higher living density (574 inhab./km²th respect to the second (210 inhab./km², only calculated on the visible part).
As regards the demographic trend, the population living at Mirano is not dynamic. It lost dozens of inhabitants during the last few years. The population increased by 1.6% in 2003 and by 0.8% in 2004, also thanks to a positive balance.
Moreover, Campagna Lupia has a relatively young population. The elderly above 65 years amount to 102 each 100 young people less than 15 years (old age index). This index amounts to 143 in Mirano.
A higher level of education and a higher number of graduates attest the more urban nature of Mirano compared to the other town.

Almost 45 people of the non-working population depend on 100 of the working population (index of dependence). This number goes down to 38 in Campagna Lupia, with a considerable number of young people below fifteen.
In 2001, the level of unemployment in the PA was 48.5%, higher than the peri-urban Area of Mestre (47.3%) and that of the province of Venice (47.2%). In Campagna Lupia, the indicator is above average in the PA (51.3%, against 47.9% of Mirano). This is justified by the higher number of people between 15 and 64.
The difference of the employment level between men and women is particularly high, in favour of the former in the entire PA, but particularly in Campagna Lupia.
Entertainment places are rather rare in both PA towns. As regards Mirano, this is a partial exception considering the factors aforementioned which highlighted its typical urban nature.
The total number of accidents in agriculture is low and almost the same in both towns, though the number of workers at Mirano is three times that of Campagna Lupia.

The economic context

The income per capita of the two towns in the PA area is inferior to the average level in the province (23.500 euros). The value of Mirano (22.700 euros) is clearly higher than that of Campagna Lupia (17.300 euros), hence attesting its more urban nature.
Even as regards the flux of tourists, Mirano benefits from its proximity to Venice and its attractive points. Artisitic, architectonic, and environmental resources also play an important role. The protected site known as "Bosco del Parauro", is an example of the park system and urban villas in the center of the town.
The working population in the two towns are employed in a very different way in the three macro-sectors. Almost 50% of the population works in the industrial sector in Campagna Lupia, while in Mirano more than 60% work in the tertiary industry.

However, statistics indicate that Campagna Lupia is specialised in agriculture, with a percentage of the working population (4,5%) higher than Mirano (2%) and compared to the whole province (3.5%). Hence it is attested that Mirano is specialised in the tertiary industry.
The local units operating in the PA employ just over 11 thousand workers. 87% in Mirano and 13% in Campagna Lupia. This percentage which indicates the economic importance of the two towns, almost represents their demography.
This ratio is attested in the industrial and touristic sector. In the case of Mirano, tourism flourishes thanks to the higher number of hotels while Campagna Lupia has a relatively higher number of catering activities.
There is however a considerable difference in both towns as regards Health, Social and personal services, Education and Finance (which is above 95% of the PA workers in Mirano) as well as the building and transport industry (much more higher in Campagna Lupia).
To conclude, Campagna Lupia is changing from a prevalently agricultural economy to a more structured one. This change is thanks to the building industry and employment in logistics and transport. It currently offers manpower for the industry and services in the area neighbouring the chieftown.
The operators of the local Industrial units in both towns amount to almost a quarter of all the operator (23.5%). The economic productivity of Mirano is however based on the tertiary Industry. The most numerous sectors are trade and Health, both with 16% of the overall workers. Important health and aid structures including almost all branches of high schools make Mirano attractive for a wideranging neighbouring area. On the other hand, Campagna Lupia has a considerable number of workers in the construction sector (30% of the overall workers). This sector registers a similar portion of local units, with a rather high average dimension. This attests how it is a well structured activity In the productive sector of the town.
Agriculture is also important in both towns, though the proportion and aptitude is different in both areas. There are various agricultural companies in Mirano (1.056 units), However, the working population living in Mirano who declare to work in this sector only amounts to 215. It is therefore probable that a few people work in the agricultural sector but this is not statistically registered. This Justifies both the high number of working days in agriculture registered in the town, and the number of people considered farm laborers (3.348 units from 2000 Agriculture Census).
Considering these factors, an evaluation was made by transforming the work days In standard agriculture work units (710 units) to ensure a more precise comparison with other productive sectors, Another factor which attests the considerable number of farm labourers in Mirano is the diffusion of "rare" cultivations (radicchio, for example) which can also profitably utilize part-time personnel.
The situation in Campagna Lupia is very different. Though the number of farms is very inferior (298 units), the percentage of people employed in all sectors (4,5%) is on the contrary much more significant. This attests the specialisation of Campagna Lupia in agriculture (from statistics) compared to Mirano, and all the province of Venice.
The high level of irregular workers is a sign of integration with other sectors on income and private consumption of the families. This connection is facilitated by the Job opportunities in other productive sectors, in the peri-urban area and by work administration which encourages flexible work time (vacation, shifts, part-time, work at home), and also allows room for farm work. In some cases, the productive specialisation and the positive economic yield of the cultivations make agriculture an attractive extra activity. Even the opportunity to build in a rural area encouraged people to continue living In the "farm" which was once the main economic resource and is now a useful integration to their income. Though it is manifested differently in both towns, the integration between sectors is from income and production for private consumption.

Land use

The Institutional Context

The environment

Fondaco Venezia - Cap. 16 Governet Project