Usury, the risk is growing in Italy. The ranking of the most indebted cities
The indebtedness of private households is increasing and the risk of usury against craftsmen and small businesses is growing. More and more Italians are forced to apply for loans from banking institutions, so that the average amount per family nucleus is 22,710 euros. This emerging trend was noted by the Mestre Cgia study center, which calculated that the total level of debt in our country has reached the new level Record value of 595.1 billion euroswhich corresponds to an increase of 3.5% compared to 2021.
The CGIA analysts argue that the rise in bank debt is the result of a combination of factors including inflation, rising mortgage costs and rising energy tariffs. Added to this is the stimulus provided by the robust economic recovery that began in the 2021-2022 biennium following the end of the lockdowns imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The usury card: Italy’s most indebted cities
According to the analysis of the CGIA, The province with the highest household debt is Milan, with an average debt of 35,342 euros (+5.1% compared to 2021). It takes second place Monza-Brianzawith an average debt of 31,984 euros (+3%), in third place Bolzanowith an amount of 31,483 euros (+5%). Behind the podium are the families of Rome and its province with an average debt of 30,851 euros (+2.8%), followed by those of Howwith an amount of 30,276 euros (+3.8%).
Below is the ranking of the first 5 Italian provinces by average household debt:
- Milan: 35,342 euros
- Monza-Brianza: 31,984 euros
- Bolzano: 31,483 euros
- Rome: 30,851 euros
- How: 30,276 euros
Reversing the ranking reveals the lowest indebted households among the provinces Agrigentowith an average debt of 10,302 euros (+3%), e.g Vibo Valentiawith an amount of 9,993 euros (+1.9%). These two provinces occupy the third last and penultimate place respectively. It stands out when compared to the provinces with the lowest average debt Ennawhere households have an average debt of 9,631 euros (+3.6%).
- Enna: 9,631 euros
- Vibo Valentia: 9,993 euros
- Agrigento: 10,302 euros
- Reggio Calabria: 10,715 euros
- Cosenza: 11,037 euros
As for the variations in thefamily debts The Italian province that registered the most significant increase in 2022 was Ravenna, with an increase of 9.1%. In contrast, Vercelli was the only province to experience a fall in debt, down 2.3%.
There Cgia In a note he said:
Although police reports of this crime have been declining for some time, it cannot be ruled out that the mounting household debt will prompt more than one person to turn to usurers, who have traditionally been able to help them better than anyone else, particularly those in economically difficult times, there is a lack of liquidity. Everyone knows that usury is a karst phenomenon: those caught up in the loan shark network rarely contact the police.
Confcommercio: Every fourth trader fears the abyss of usury
Again, as observed by the Cgia of Mestre:
Given the gradual slowdown in economic activity and the consequent fall in bank lending to businesses that has occurred in recent months, we cannot rule out the hypothesis of a possible “approach” of criminal organizations to family-run micro-enterprises such as artisans, shopkeepers and numerous VAT numbers.
On the other hand, the self-employed sector has always been the one most exposed to risks. Second an investigation by Confcommercio In 2022, usury and the illegal phenomenon are perceived by entrepreneurs as increasing (25.9%), followed by unauthorized use (21.3%), extortion (20.1%) and theft (19.8%). The trend is more pronounced in the south and in non-food retail, where higher percentages are seen and where usury in particular is reported at the increase of over 30% of businesses. In Rome it is reported that this phenomenon is increasing for 28.5% of entrepreneurs. In addition, more than one in five entrepreneurs has been informed about cases of usury or extortion in their field of activity, and in particular 10.3% have direct knowledge of them. The “hearsay” is significantly higher in the south (31.1%), in Palermo (31.9%), among transport companies (29%) and in non-food retail (26.4%), among bars (26% ).
Anti-wear fund: what it is and how it works
From a preventive point of view, however, there are tools to counteract this phenomenon. First of all, the “Fund for the Prevention of Usury. This tool has been enshrined in law for several years, but has seen limited use, partly due to low public awareness and the limited financial resources associated with it. 70% of the funds from the fund are used to finance the special funds set up by guarantee syndicates (Confidi) to combat usury, and the remaining 30% support recognized foundations and associations dedicated to preventing the wear and tear phenomenon.
The administration of the fund and the organization of the contribution payment system are the responsibility of the management regulations as well as the decisions of a commission composed of representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Crafts and the Ministry of Finance Social Affairs at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
