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      • Spoleto
        • 21 September 2012
         
         

        The Enlightenment and the Transatlantic Link: Common Roots and Today’s Challenges

          The third edition of “The Enlightenment and the Transatlantic Link: Common Roots and Today’s Challenges” took place within the setting of Spoleto’s Palazzo Ancaiani. The event was organized in conjunction with The Aspen Institute and was aimed at discussing the continued relevance today of Enlightenment values, through an interpretation of over thirty selected texts by American and European authors, including several from Italy. This modern-day rereading of these fonts of Enlightenment thinking was divided into five sessions structured around the following universal themes:

        • Milan
          • 16 July 2012
           
           

          Beyond growth: in search of a new and sustainable development

            At this national roundtable dedicated to the quest for a sustainable development model, it was noted by way of preface that overcoming the crisis and returning to past growth is the outlook – or imperative, hope or delusion, depending on your point of view – which has dominated public debate, analyses, scenarios and action plans in Western countries in recent years.

          • Rome
            • 11 July 2012
             
             

            Promoting Italy’s image: focusing on strong points to improve competitiveness

              The starting point for discussions at this national roundtable session was the observation that, in this time of crisis, revamping Italy’s image is not just a strategic priority, but also a pressing necessity. The problem was seen as originating, paradoxically, from within the country itself, with Italians engaging in some sort of exercise in self-flagellation by talking down their homeland whenever abroad.

            • Rome
              • 5 July 2012
               
               

              The European paradox

                The “European paradox” lies first and foremost in the great potential of the eurozone and the EU as an integrated economic bloc, which remains undeniable despite the serious difficulties of the past few months, and the concerns with the future solidity of the single currency: we are practically witnessing the crisis (hopefully a temporary crisis) of a giant on the global scene.

              • Milan
                • 26 June 2012
                 
                 

                Is it still possible to do business in Italy?

                  The Friends of Aspen gathered for the first time since 2007 at the Teatro Studio Expo, as guests of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano (aka the Teatro d’Europa), for the fourteenth spring meeting of the group. After the group’s latest members were introduced and a brief rundown was given of the group’s activities, members were asked to suggest topics to be addressed at the next annual conference in November.

                • Milano
                  • 25 June 2012
                   
                   

                  Globalization: ethics, rules, and economics

                    Proceedings at this national roundtable got underway with the observation that, in recent years, the concept of ethics seems to have taken center-stage in economic debate. Expressions such as ethical finance, ethical trade and business ethics are being used more and more frequently, and all major international companies have a code of ethics.

                  • Hammamet (Tunisia)
                    • 15 June 2012
                     
                     

                    Energizing the Mediterranean economies: transitions, global competition and the search for opportunities

                      The Mediterranean region is very diverse and simultaneously presents elements of close interdependence: the economic crisis of the past few years has shown that each country reacts to the challenges and opportunities on the basis of specific institutional and social features, even in the presence of important contagion effects. The political transitions in some Arab countries, starting with Tunisia and Egypt, confirm these twin tendencies whereby endogenous and local factors interact with regional and international ones.

                    • Rome
                      • 13 June 2012
                       
                       

                      The power of the net: new challenges for leaders

                        Opening up discussions at this national roundtable on the power of the web was the observation that the internet has changed the face of politics, especially in terms of the processes of building consensus and managing leadership. There were already clear signs of this in Barack Obama’s winning election campaign of 2008, with two million supporters marshaled via the net, 8 and a half million unique visitors to the main campaign website, 13 million newsletter subscribers and 30 million dollars raised in online donations.

                      • Milan
                        • 5 June 2012
                         
                         

                        Making hard choices: economic and political challenges for Europe

                          This encounter with Professor Guido Tabellini, Rector and Full Professor of Economics at the Luigi Bocconi University, gave the Aspen Junior Fellows an in-depth look at today’s issues. Twenty years after Maastricht, Europe’s economic and financial scenario has changed radically. The outlines of European unity were born of an optimistic forecast of the ability to govern a monetary – albeit not yet political or fiscal – union in the context of growing financial integration.

                        • Milan
                          • 4 June 2012
                           
                           

                          Striking a balance between a fair tax system and economic growth in Italy

                            Proceedings at this National Roundtable examining the link between fiscal equity and growth in Italy got underway with the observation that, according to the Italian Constitution, taxation, as well as enabling the delivery of services and benefits essential to the welfare and progress of citizens, should also help overcome social inequalities through the application of redistributive justice criteria. This principle of “fairness” in setting tax levels takes on an even greater significance when, as is currently happening, social and economic disparities widen.

                          • Rome
                            • 30 May 2012
                             
                             

                            The labor market, competitiveness and human capital

                              The participants at this National Conference noted that for decades the relationship between labor and capital in Italy seems to have swung periodically between the antitheses of cooperation and conflict – of subscribing to a shared mission and engaging in confrontation as a matter of principle. Ranged on one side has been a notion which views a business as a community of men and women intent on achieving shared objectives, and on the other has been a more class-conscious approach, grounded in the competing interests of all the various actors in the labor market.

                            • Rome
                              • 22 May 2012
                               
                               

                              Competing on international markets: economic challenges for businesses and professionals

                                It was observed at this meeting of Former Aspen Junior Fellows that Italy’s current prime objective is economic development. To aid recovery, the country must make the most of every resource at its disposal. In addition to firms, institutions and social partners, this joint undertaking was also requiring the involvement of professionals, who contribute 15% of GDP and represent nearly two and a half million highly-skilled individuals, of whom one-third are between 30 and 40 years of age and a significant proportion are female.

                              • Rome
                                • 16 May 2012
                                 
                                 

                                Nations without wealth, wealth without nations

                                  At this talk-debate event held in Rome, it was noted that although twenty years have passed since the publication of the book “Nazioni senza ricchezza, ricchezze senza Nazione” written by Giulio Tremonti, Sabino Cassese, Tiziano Treu and Francesco Galgano, the work remains extraordinarily relevant today, as by the time of its release a rift had already emerged between nations and reality, with the latter – and the problems and opportunities it presented – eluding the material constraints under which the former were forced to operate.

                                • Milano
                                  • 7 May 2012
                                   
                                   

                                  Reforming welfare in Italy: public and private sectors for a new social pact

                                    At this roundtable session dedicated to the subject of Italian welfare reform, it was noted that European welfare models have come under pressure from major demographic, economic and social changes, including progressively aging populations, rising expectations for healthcare, increased risks of non-self-sufficiency, sporadic employment and income, and concerns over public debt, which have conspired to make healthcare and welfare systems devised in the past gradually more unsustainable.

                                  • Rome
                                    • 15 April 2012
                                     
                                     

                                    Media, business and societies: a platform for change

                                      The second Aspen Mediterranean Initiative seminar provided the opportunity to widen the network of the region’s emerging leaders as it analyzed the relationship between traditional and new media, and society and politics. Journalists, activists, bloggers and artists all shared their perceptions on the direct influence of communications on political events.

                                    • Rome
                                      • 15 April 2012
                                       
                                       

                                      Italian leaders abroad

                                        The fourth edition of the “Italian Leaders Abroad” conference was inaugurated with a speech by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti. The meeting gave rise to a proposal by Aspen Institute Italia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education to form a joint task force in order to reinforce the international network of scientists, researchers and companies active in the field of research.