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.
Venice
9 May 2014
Development strategies for tourism
Debate at this ASL session focused on examining the impact in Italy of global developments in tourism, with the participants acknowledging from the outset that both quantitative and qualitative changes in the industry require the country to formulate appropriate strategies if it wishes to ensure that the sector remains a key lever of its economy.
Venice
9 May 2014
Governing complexity in the country system: challenges, priorities and Italy’s choices
The participants at this ASL seminar noted that Europe has made it past the most acute phase of the economic and financial crisis, but is still struggling to embark on a virtuous process of sweeping and sustained growth.
It was felt that in order to accomplish this, the Member States need to fully seize the opportunities offered by the digital revolution and confront the associated challenges and risks – including to the quality of democracy – arising from the change that this technological paradigm brings with it.