Sustainable Mobility as a Factor of Urban Competitiveness: The Scenario of Major Italian Cities

An increasing number of studies focus on how sustainable mobility may improve cities’ livability by providing safe, affordable, accessible, efficient and resilient services and infrastructure for the mobility of people and goods, minimising environmental impact. Among the benefits of sustainable mobility solutions are the enhancement of connectivity within houses, services, public facilities and green spaces, as well as promoting well-being and social inclusion. Promoting sustainable mobility can bring new resources and investments to a city and, as a consequence, a chance to boost its economic attractiveness. One of the most relevant opportunities to improve sustainable mobility in Italy is the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which finances sustainable mobility projects and initiatives as key elements for the competitiveness of Italian cities. This paper seeks to examine the weight of sustainable mobility features in shaping the competitiveness of 14 major Italian cities. To do so, we conducted a principal component analysis and regression analysis to determine the significance of sustainable mobility indicators in urban competitiveness within a framework of urban characteristics that refer to five fields of investment of the PNRR.