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      • Venice
        • 26 October 2012
         
         

        Arts, culture and tourism in Italy: local opportunities to meet global challenges

          The opening premise of this ASL session was that Italy’s cultural heritage and tourism resources are capable of offering great development potential if certain strategic issues are resolved. In particular, it was stressed that heritage assets must be harnessed as a lever for wealth creation, tourist offerings need to be upgraded, and most importantly, there needs to be a renewed focus on the pivotal relationship between development and infrastructure.

        • Venice
          • 26 October 2012
           
           

          The engines of growth for Italy’s future

            Discussions at this ASL session got underway with the observation that the current economic woes are indicative not of a simple downturn but of a profound crisis, which calls for a radical alteration in lifestyles and development models. It was felt that without such far-reaching changes, levels of growth throughout Europe will continue to be very low in the coming years, in part because it will be impossible to kick-start development and employment without incurring some cost.

          • Venice
            • 26 October 2012
             
             

            Self-interest vs. the common interest: ethics and leadership today

              At this Aspen Seminar for Leaders session exploring the question of what makes a modern leader, the picture painted was of someone who is not merely a conveyor of values, a consensus and team builder, and an inspirer of trust, but also of someone who respects the rules and other people, who has a strategic vision that is not untempered, who knows how to acknowledge mistakes and can make an honest assessment of defeat, and who is able to embody an idea of the future and can rally the hearts and minds of followers around this.

            • Venice
              • 26 October 2012
               
               

              Reshaping Europe: political, economic and social challenges

                Europe is at a crossroads. The Old World today is facing crucial challenges for its very survival as a political and economic unit. The task is not simple. It is a matter of defining a new economic, political and institutional architecture capable of ensuring its ability to compete with other economic and political systems at the global level.

              • Rome
                • 19 October 2012
                 
                 

                The rising economic powerhouses: Latin America’s role in the global rebalancing

                  One of the opening observations at this International Workshop was that the shape of transatlantic relations is gradually changing with the emergence of a new global order, and that an upshot of this process is the opportunity to create a “Southern Atlanticism”, which hinges on extending traditional North Atlantic ties to Latin America (and potentially to some areas of the African continent).

                • Rome
                  • 17 October 2012
                   
                   

                  Innovation and research to beat the crisis

                    Innovation is a complex process that requires creativity and talent, as well as infrastructure, long-term investment and a truly effective merit-based system of incentives: these were the watchwords at this event to launch the latest issue of Aspenia. Indeed, it was observed that for a society to be innovative in the twenty-first century world, it must have the scope and ability to combine scientific research with applied technology, thereby transforming ideas into products or services that are useful from a market perspective.

                  • Milan
                    • 8 October 2012
                     
                     

                    Implementing a digital agenda to spur Italy’s economic growth

                      This national roundtable examining the ramifications of implementing Italy’s digital agenda got underway with the participants citing a few statistics on point. Firstly, it was noted that the internet economy contributes 2% to Italy’s GDP – the same as agriculture, but with a potential of at least double that, thus bringing levels seen in England or Sweden within reach for the country.

                    • Rome
                      • 3 October 2012
                       
                       

                      Reducing Italy’s public debt: is selling public assets a solution?

                        Kick-starting discussions at this national roundtable event was the observation that few subjects have lent themselves as well in Italian public debate to the vivid use of metaphors as has the scale of the country’s public debt, often described as a mountain to be climbed, a dead weight, or as tantamount to a mortgage on Italy’s future. The actual figure is indeed staggering, amounting to nearly 2 trillion euros, and exceeding 123% of GDP.

                      • Berlin
                        • 28 September 2012
                         
                         

                        The Eurozone’s path: the Union between reality and aspiration

                          The current financial crisis has thrown into sharp relief the close links that exist between monetary policy, the banking sector, sovereign debt, and serious imbalances within the Eurozone. The vehemence and longevity of the crisis have called into question the very political structure of the European Union as well as its institutional architecture, both in need of modification through a more rigorous application of existing rules, but also by means of the assignment of new responsibilities and the creation of new mechanisms.

                        • Milan
                          • 24 September 2012
                           
                           

                          The banking sector and industry: creating a virtuous cycle to stimulate Italy’s real economy

                            Kicking off discussions at this national conference was the observation that the current financial crisis, evidently systemic in nature, is predominantly being shaped at this stage by perceived risk factors linked to vulnerabilities in the real economy and the banking system. Efforts in the political, economic and monetary arenas – both at national and European levels – seem to have eased speculative pressures on the markets and tentatively restored international investor confidence.

                          • 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.