Kick-starting the panel discussion accompanying the launch of the latest issue of Aspen Institute Italia’s Aspenia journal was the observation that in the twenty years since the founding of the journal in 1995 by Giuliano Amato, along with other prominent members of the Institute, the world has changed beyond recognition.
Emerging from discussions during the Med 2015 Youth Forum – devoted to the topic “The challenge: new jobs for new generations” – was the finding that investment in infrastructure, in the Internet of Things, and in renewable energy, along with a shift towards a greater grassroots focus, are the factors that could bring about a decisive breakthrough to the problem of youth employment in the Mediterranean.
With almost three years having passed since the Italian Prime Ministerial Decree of January 24, 2013, which set out “Strategic guidelines for national cyberspace protection and ICT security”, this national roundtable event afforded an opportunity to take stock of what has been accomplished so far to implement that directive.
Serving as the springboard for discussions at this Meeting for the Aspen Junior Fellows was the observation that Italy’s fortunes will pick up again, and that it is armed with this knowledge, along with a strong drive, high ideals, and continuous training, that younger generations in the country must face the future and do business.
This International Workshop was organized jointly with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), in cooperation with the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) and with the support of the European External Action Service (EEAS). The discussions were structured so as to contribute to the development in progress of a “Global Strategy” for the European Union, which will be officially presented by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, in June 2016.
This Meeting for the Friends of Aspen focused on the precious commodity of consumer trust, characterized as difficult to earn and even harder to keep. It was noted that new communications technologies have enabled the widespread availability of information today, making transparency a prerequisite for winning consumer trust in brands. To that end, new business tools are being developed, such that there is now talk in the United States of the emergence of a reputation economy.
Driving discussions at this National Interest roundtable event was the acknowledgement that, more than 150 years on from the unification of Italy, the plight of the nation’s southern regions continues to be the major sticking point for the country’s growth. It was suggested that an examination of the integration and development successfully achieved by the former GDR would help pinpoint the sorts of measures needed to kick-start an effective process of regional convergence in Italy.
The focus of the 14th annual Conference for the Aspen Junior Fellows was the profound transformation undergone by the concept of labor due to major advances in technology, which are changing the way labor is organized, the forms it takes, and where it is performed. Indeed, the institutions that regulate it and the role of workers in increasingly digitized and automated production processes are also changing, while the balance of power between labor and capital has shifted.
Running through discussions at this national roundtable was the acknowledgement that the opportunities offered by the technological revolution currently in progress pose a challenge for Italy, namely: that of deploying innovation to preserve the nation’s position as the second largest manufacturing country in Europe.
The issue of the representation of special interests is currently taking on particular importance within the Italian political system: this is occurring as a result of political parties’ declining monopoly over the function they used to have of intermediating interests, and due to the emergence of the governance paradigm more open to identifying a role for the stakeholders within the process of public decision-making.
Kick-starting the panel discussion at the launch of the latest issue of the Institute’s Aspenia journal was the recognition that Milan was, is, and will continue to be Italy’s creative thinking capital.
The focus of this fourth edition of the annual National Conference on the Italian banking system was the future of a sector being squeezed between, on the one hand, a veritable regulatory deluge that has contributed to reduced profit margins, and, on the other, new competitors from associated sectors that already existed (shadow banking) or are entirely new (fintech), which threaten business that has always been the preserve of the banks.
The chief thrust of discussions at this national roundtable was that Italy’s manufacturing base has demonstrated a great capacity for responding and adapting, even though the continuing economic crisis has seen a major industrial downsize. Indeed, between 2008 and 2014, the number of Italian firms fell by about 47,000, a drop primarily involving small and medium-sized firms, while manufacturing potential as a whole shrank by 18%.
Launching discussions at this national roundtable was the observation that the Italian pension system has undergone several attempts at reform over the past 25 years. From the Dini reforms to the more recent Fornero efforts, a succession of reform packages have accorded priority to balancing the public finances which underpin the first and most important pillar of the Italian pension system – namely, the state pension.
Discussions at this Conference for the Italian talent abroad group focused on the need for a development model where economic growth is not merely an end, but serves as a means to improving the quality of people’s lives. This was highlighted as the shared goal uniting Italy and the more than 150 countries which, during the recent United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, adopted a package of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be pursued by 2030.
Enterprises, innovation, and Milan were the three watchwords of discussions at this meeting focused on the pursuit by the Lombardy region of international competitiveness, particularly with respect to other European macro-regions of excellence, namely: Bavaria, Rhône-Alpes, Catalonia, and Baden-Württemberg.
It is women who underestimate their abilities, don’t ask for anything and often put up with a less important job than they are capable of. And yet according to many statistical studies, they are more competent, better prepared, have higher university grades and are better managers. It is true to say that women are more versatile and flexible and they play a key role in integrating the various elements of society.
