Some notes on a history of teaching statistics in Italy

Abstract

The history of Statistics teaching in Italy can be more easily understood remembering that at the beginning of the 1800's as well as after the 1815 Congress of Vienna, Italy was divided into many States. Therefore the teaching of Statistics developed in different ways in the Universities of the different States. In the initial phase (1811-1859) the teaching of Statistics started in the Law Faculties of Naples, Pavia and Padua Universities reflecting the earlier experiences of France and Austria in this field. In the following period (1859-1875) however an unexpected phenomenon manifested itself. Statistics began to be taught together with Geography in the Faculties of Philosophy and Letters within the Kingdom of Sardinia. As the political unity of Italy was gradually realized by the Kingdom of Sardinia, it was the above university organization of Statistics that expanded into the new born Kingdom of Italy. Scientific debate and concern about the linkage of Statistics to Geography accompanied this expansion. These difficulties were overcome in 1875 when the teaching of "Statistics" became mandatory in all Faculties of Law in the Italian Kingdom. From 1875 until 1923 Statistics continued to consolidate its position in the Faculties of Law and in the Superior Schools of Commerce. However the subject was not received with favour by jurists who felt that Statistics was not part of their discipline. On the other hand as the study of Statistical Methods developed, Italian Statisticians became increasingly conscious of the necessity that Statistics be taught not only in the Law Faculties, but also in other faculties. Between 1923 and 1930 Statistics left the Faculties of Law for its own autonomy. In 1927 the Schools of Statistics were created in Rome and Padua, and in 1936 the Faculty of Statistical, Demographically and Actuarial Sciences was officially founded in Rome where the School of Statistics was consequently abolished. The school offered a Diploma in Statistics and in addition the Faculty offered a Degree in Statistical and Demographically Sciences and a Degree in Statistical and Actuarial Sciences. Therefore the university teaching of Statistics in Italy, which at the begging of the 1800's originated and was inspired by the experience of other European countries with different political and cultural traditions, and which passed through many difficulties and provoked wide debate, was by the end of the 1930's organized in a way that has no parallel in other countries.