Agricultural Crops and Spatial Distribution of Migrants: Case Studies in Campania Region (Southern Italy)

Abstract

In the current context of increasing stabilization of migrants permanently residing in the Campania region (southern Italy), this paper aims to investigate the relationship between the spatial distribution of migrants and the work opportunities in the agricultural sector. We analyse data in the agriculture and population censuses currently available at the municipality level (referring to 2011) and we apply spatial autocorrelation techniques, using the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) and Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. The maps clusters of migrants (classified by continent) and agricultural crops or breeding (horticulture, orchards and citrus, buffalo and poultry farms), highlight a positive spatial correspondence between resulting hot spots. Finally, we overlay the resulting cluster maps to understand the significance of any external factors, such as the employment opportunities in the areas where migrants have settled.