What can we plausibly bring back? Opening a discussion on reshoring of supplies

The article uses primary data collected through a survey designed to investigate the location choices of Italian companies: 762 manufacturing companies have allowed us to explore the backshoring phenomenon as a whole, considering both the relocation of production and supply. The data collected confirm the limited choices of productive backshoring (total or partial), which were implemented by 16.5% of the 121 companies that had transferred the production abroad and which could be implemented in the medium to long term period from a further 12% of these. Instead, about 75% of all respondents purchased supplies wholly or partially from foreign companies and 21.1% carried out a total or partial backshoring of supplies. Backshoring of supplies is a strategy adopted and adoptable by companies operating throughout the national territory operating in various sectors and is, therefore, a phenomenon with considerable growth potential. Our results allow us to provide some policy suggestions aimed at increasing the attractiveness of our territories and the competitiveness of our companies by leveraging digitalisation, sustainability and skill upgrading to encourage new investments and return spontaneously of some companies that could re-evaluate their localisation choices in light of the transformations triggered by these policies.