During the last few years, many small towns in Italy were faced with the issue of depopulation, as their populations aged, the birth rate declined, and emigration increased. In 2019, the United Nations reported that Italy was the only major European economy whose population was set to decline in the next five years, and this glooming prophecy came true.

Many of the younger generations who had previously lived in these rural areas have chosen to move abroad or to urban centers that offer more job and social opportunities. This depopulation issue is also what led to the popular one euro housing scheme that offers Italian property for a euro in exchange for promised investment in the economy. Many small-town mayors have come up with other creative incentives to try and bring economic opportunity and population back to their towns.