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      • Rome
        • 24 September 2014
         
         

        Reforming Italy’s public administration to spur competitiveness

          The participants at this National Roundtable viewed as telling that in the nigh-on seventy-year history of the Italian Republic, there have been several instances of eminent figures such as Guido Carli expressing grave concerns regarding the state of the country’s public administration. Today, after a protracted period characterized by a lack of continuity in the political and governmental helmsmanship of the state apparatus, the prevailing sense is that of an institutional and procedural milieu bereft of political leadership.

        • Rome
          • 17 September 2014
           
           

          Cross‐generation roundtable – Beyond equal opportunity: women in business and in the public sector

            This second edition of the Cross-generational Roundtable, aimed at bringing together associates of Aspen Institute Italia spanning several generations to discuss various topics of shared interest, focused on gender equality of opportunity. In particular, the participants examined analyses and proposals to improve women’s access in Italy to managerial and leadership positions in companies and public administrations.

          • Rome
            • 31 July 2014
             
             

            From vulnerabilities to resilience: strengthening human development

              Education, welfare and the gender gap were at the top of the agenda of discussions at this international roundtable, which featured guest speaker Khalid Malik, Director of the UNDP’s Human Development Report Office. The Office’s 2014 report sets out to measure progress in long-term human development against three main areas of achievement: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. Also taken into account are the capacity to enjoy equal opportunity of access, and to exercise the universal right to the same opportunities in life.

            • Milan
              • 16 July 2014
               
               

              Joint meeting between the Friends of Aspen and the Aspen Junior Fellows – Topic: the “World Economy” international conference

                The three issues explored at the recent Aspen International Conference event – the “World Economy Dialogue” held in Rome on June 30, 2014 – were the subject of discussion at this first joint meeting of the Friends of Aspen and Aspen Junior Fellows. The resources to be called upon for the global recovery, the energy challenge facing Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa as a frontier for global growth hence provided the guiding framework for a debate informed by the specific profile of those in attendance, namely, entrepreneurs and young people.

              • Brescia
                • 15 July 2014
                 
                 

                Health, environment and lifestyle: can Italy be a model of sustainable well‐being?

                  Spearheading discussions at this national roundtable discussion was the affirmation that Italy could become a major force in sustainable prosperity, but in order to fully achieve this goal, it must work further on resolving its economic, environmental and social problems, and continue to maintain its strengths. While the country has an outstanding track record in health, wellbeing and lifestyle, there was a consensus that it must not rest on its laurels.

                • Rome
                  • 10 July 2014
                   
                   

                  The “abuse of rights” in public finance administration and tax law

                    Discussions at this National Roundtable commenced with a reference to the old cartographic practice of marking unknown and dangerous lands with the expression “Hic sunt leones”. It was suggested that, today, the same could be done if charting a hypothetical map of business taxation in Italy: an insidious terra incognita in which that peculiar invention of the judiciary known as “abuse of rights” generates confusion and uncertainty.

                  • Rome
                    • 29 June 2014
                     
                     

                    The next frontiers: tapping the potential of our economies

                      Launching discussions at this World Economy Conference was an acknowledgement by those in attendance that the recovery from the economic crisis of recent years has been particularly slow in historical terms, with the most recent figures confirming fears of a further possible slowdown. This global scenario was seen as a fortiori necessitating that growth be considered a top priority for Europe during Italy’s current 6-month-long presidency of the Council of the EU.

                    • Milan
                      • 15 June 2014
                       
                       

                      The new entrepreneur: international, open to risk, good at communications

                        Running through the debate at this year’s Annual Conference for the Friends of Aspen was an awareness that,in an increasingly competitive and complex market, entrepreneurs need to be able to develop a mindset and skill-set that is open to risk and capable of steering and governing the processes of globalization whilst preserving their firms’ identity. It was acknowledged that there is a shift underway towards a new business paradigm that calls for a novel form of leadership based on trust, knowledge sharing, and fresh approaches to facilitating the flow of intelligence and charisma.

                      • Milan
                        • 9 June 2014
                         
                         

                        The Italian luxury goods industry: cultural and manufacturing aspects

                          The participants at this national roundtable noted, by way of opening premise, that the luxury and high-end markets represent a worldwide business worth 730 billion dollars. The sub-segment of personal luxury goods – valued at 230 billion dollars – sees Italy and France as joint market leaders, each having a share worth more than 50 billion dollars.

                        • Siracusa
                          • 6 June 2014
                           
                           

                          Arab Evolutions. The Mediterranean after the global slowdown

                            Kick-starting talks at this session of the Aspen Mediterranean Initiative was the observation that the arduous and variegated evolution of the Mediterranean region needs to be viewed within the prevailing global context.

                          • Rome
                            • 27 May 2014
                             
                             

                            Making the public sector work: of efficiency and effectiveness

                              In the immediate post-war period Italy chose to adopt a lightweight economic policy, and it remained as such for the following few decades. Since the 1970s, however, we have been witnessing the emergence of a parallel state that introduced an era of a debt democracy, characterized by the proliferation of rules, excessive bureaucracy, the explosion of spending and with that an increase in debt. This economic degeneration is taking place within a general anthropological and cultural degeneration.

                            • Rome
                              • 21 May 2014
                               
                               

                              How the audiovisual industry can stimulate economic and cultural growth in Europe

                                Conservation vs. change, protection vs. openness, and domestic focus vs. global reach: these juxtapositions prompted participants at this national roundtable to highlight that a cursory examination of the public debate over the prospects of the Italian audiovisual industry would seem to reflect – if not reduce it to – a simplistic dichotomy between old and new market players.

                              • Venice
                                • 9 May 2014
                                 
                                 

                                Focus on industry: how to increase competitiveness?

                                  Opening proceedings at this ASL session was the observation that industry is once more the focus of economic growth strategies in the major advanced economies, having been so all along in emerging markets. Taking off first in the US, this approach has recently gained purchase in Europe as well, such that industrial policy, which until a few years ago was considered old hat, has again become key in the formulation of economic policy strategies.

                                • Venice
                                  • 9 May 2014
                                   
                                   

                                  Strengthening and accelerating innovation: resources, tools, competencies

                                    Headlining discussions at this ASL seminar was the observation that innovation – a key factor for growth, competitiveness and social wellbeing – requires that a series of tangible and intangible conditions be met in for it to be given full expression. Only thus – it was argued – will it be possible to harness creative talent, transform flashes of inspiration into concrete outcomes, and support business vision and ideas. The fostering of innovation was viewed, especially at this juncture, as imperative for the Italian economy, which needs to reinvigorate its manufacturing base.

                                  • Venice
                                    • 9 May 2014
                                     
                                     

                                    The consumer of the future: up‐to‐date, global, responsible

                                      Kick-starting discussions at this ASL seminar was the observation that the consumer of today is an increasingly fluid figure that resists interpretation pursuant to paradigms superseded through the radical changes brought about by new technologies, as well as through an economic crisis that has altered individuals’ priorities and given rise to new patterns of consumption.