1. Economic inequalities within the EU

2. Within EU states, differences exist between rich and poor regions, some are poorer than others
New member states of eastern Europe are much poorer than the older western states.
In 1973 Ireland joined EU and was poor, in 2007 Ireland was ranked as one of the wealthiest

4. Economic inequality in the Republic of Ireland

5. The republic of Ireland can be broken into 2 economic regions
More prosperous south and eastern region (Core)
Less prosperous (BMW) border, midlands and western regions (periphery)

6. The BMW

7. The BMW contains mountainous land especially in Galway, Mayo and Donegal
Many farms are small and have a high percentage of elderly famers
Population of 1.1. million and has a low population density
Apart from Galway, Sligo, Dundalk and Drogheda the urban centres of the BMW are small
Infrastructure not as good as in the south and east

8. The Southern and eastern region

9. Contain some excellent soils in river valleys such as the barrow and the blackwater
Many farmers in the south and east are tillage farmers
The southern and eastern region had a population of 3.1 million people in 2006
Higher population density than the bmw
The region benefits from inward migration from the bmw

10. The infrastructure is better in the south and eastern region
There are 3 international airports in the region and the largest sea ports in the state are located there
Dublin is the centre of the republics economy as the headquarters of the country’s largest bank and insurance companies are located in Dublin in the IFSC.

11. Economic Inequalities In Italy

12. The North Of Italy
Northern Italy has a favourable climate for agriculture
Agriculture in the Po valley is very productive and produces crops such as wheat, rice, sunflowers maize and vegetables

13. The North Of Italy
The North of Italy is one of Europe's greatest manufacturing centres
Companies such as Zanussi, Benetton, Fiat and Gucci are located there
The main industrial area in the North of Italy is known as the Milan Turin Genoa Industrial Triangle

14. HEP sourced in the Alps generates power for industries
The North has excellent roads and railways
Tunnels and passes connect to markets in France, Switzerland and Austria
The north has a great tourist industry with winter sports in the alps and lake resorts

15. The South Of Italy : The Mezzogiorno
The south of Italy is called the Mezzogiorno
This region includes the southern portion of the Italian peninsula as well as the islands of Sardinia and Sicily
The south is a peripheral region and is much poorer than the North

16. Much of the south has a mountainous landscape which makes farming difficult
The south gets little rainfall during the summer months
And as a result agricultural output is much lower than the north
The south has suffered as a result of outward migration
Companies both Italian and European are less willing to invest in the south as it is far from the markets of the EU
The south especially Sicily is infamous for organised crimes
e.g. The mafia

17. The south has many tourist attractions such as Vesuvius and Pompeii
The Mezzogiorno is also famous for filming of “spaghetti westerns”

18. The Casa
Southern Italy has benefited from a Government agency called Casa and From EU grants
Casa invested funds into irrigation schemes to help farmers
In the last 50 years Southern Italy has Been connected to Northern Italy by a motorway which Has helped tourism, farming and Manufacturing