What if e-commerce platforms could help save Italy’s small towns from depopulation? That idea is gaining traction thanks to new data suggesting that digital markets may be the key to keeping local economies alive.
The 2024 Italian Small Business Report revealed an unexpected trend – small businesses in southern Italy are leading the way in online commerce. According to eBay’s findings, 60 % of Italian small sellers on the platform live in non-urban areas, often in villages where craftsmanship has deep roots. Even in regions facing economic and digital challenges, small enterprises thrive when they gain access to an open, global market. Entrepreneurship can start anywhere – the key is ensuring it can reach everywhere.
