Italian Authorities Offer Over $27,000 to Live in a Village

Italian authorities are offering a yearly sum of over $27,000 to anyone willing to settle in a small village. According to CNN, the forgotten Molise region, located east of Rome, has announced it will pay individuals who agree to move to one of its 106 underpopulated villages as a means to prevent the abandonment of these areas. New residents are required to commit to starting a small business to contribute to the local economy.

“I want my region to be reborn and to avoid the risk of becoming 'ghost villages,'” said regional councilor Antonio Tedeschi, who initiated the idea. It is noteworthy that in recent years, thousands of people have left Molise. Official statistics show that since 2014, the population of the area has decreased by 9,000, resulting in a current population of 305,000.