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      • Milan
        • 25 November 2011
         
         

        The Mediterranean: from epicenter of humanity to energy hub

          It was remarked during this AJF Breakfast meeting that the Mediterranean has been an area of ongoing interest throughout the history of Aspen Institute Italia, particularly during the 1990s, with specially-themed conferences dealing with the subject, and over the last decade, with a focus on the impact of the socio-political prospects of the region on access to energy resources. Acknowledged as a place of encounter and of conflict for thousands of years, the participants also noted its role as a trading space, a “liquid plain” hemmed in by numerous borders, to use Braudel’s description.

        • Florence
          • 18 November 2011
           
           

          The digital challenge: infrastructure, content and business models

            This session in the latest round of Aspen Seminars for Leaders opened with the observation that the digital revolution is still underway, and that whilst the transformations so far have been radical, there are many changes – if not actual reversals – of direction yet to come. Even American authorities were aware of this when, not more than twenty years ago, they chose to expand the internet: today, there are 2 billion 500 thousand internet users worldwide.

          • Florence
            • 18 November 2011
             
             

            Italy in 10 years’ time: from crisis to growth

              This seminar in the latest ASL series got underway with the observation that the way the current crisis has evolved confirms the necessity of moving beyond ex-post and localized solutions that deal with emergencies country-by-country and as and when they arise. The participants pointed instead to the need for a comprehensive strategy, based on three pillars. The first of these is the adoption of deficit-reduction programs at the national level. The second is the creation of common funds and institutions with more resources and more effective governance.

            • Florence
              • 18 November 2011
               
               

              Cities, metropolises and regions: mobility, infrastructure and financial sustainability

                Opening the discussion at this ASL seminar dedicated to urban mobility and infrastructure sustainability was the observation that Europe’s cultural, social and economic model hinges, first and foremost, on cities. While urbanization is a comparatively recent phenomenon for many countries around the world, the history and structure of industry in Italy and Europe were among the first to develop to a more significant degree around cities and metropolises.

              • Florence
                • 18 November 2011
                 
                 

                Italians at home and abroad: shared heritage, success stories and internationalization

                  In this Aspen Seminar for Leaders, dedicated to Italian talent at home and abroad, it was noted that perhaps as in no other Western country, culture has been a unifying factor in Italy: the sheer force of Italians having ancient roots in common and an extraordinary shared history has sustained an unbroken national identity over the centuries, despite the country being for a long time fragmented into several smaller states.

                • Florence
                  • 18 November 2011
                   
                   

                  The post growth West? The debt crisis and the shift to new drivers

                    Three major issues stand out in the list of challenges currently facing the Western world: (1) medium-term trends in the global economy, with special focus on new sources of growth, rebalancing and decoupling; (2) the European debt crisis, its outlook and possible solutions; and (3) green energy as a growth driver.

                  • Milan
                    • 14 November 2011
                     
                     

                    Scientific and technological research in Italy: myths and reality

                      The Friends of Aspen held their thirteenth annual meeting at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. As per tradition, at the opening of proceedings the group’s latest members were introduced, and then a brief account was given of the Friends’ activities over the past two years, which have been characterized by efforts to provide fresh insights into the work involved in running a business day-to-day, with a focus on encouraging new generations to take up the mantle.

                    • Venice
                      • 27 October 2011
                       
                       

                      China-Europe-U.S. Trialogue Second meeting

                        The second meeting of the Trialogue series focused on the issues of global economic governance (with special attention to the role of the G20), trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific links in the security field, and instability in the Middle East region with its possible implications.

                      • Rome
                        • 26 October 2011
                         
                         

                        Eurobonds: the intricate relations between politics and economics

                          Discussions at this national roundtable session got underway with the observation that the idea of introducing European public debt securities – or so-called Eurobonds – is not a new one: indeed, it dates back to 1993 when Jacques Delors proposed, albeit in embryonic form, the issuance of European bonds to finance investment in European Community infrastructure.

                        • Rome
                          • 24 October 2011
                           
                           

                          Media 2.0 – Power and Freedom

                            Debate among the members of the panel at the launch of the latest edition of Aspenia got underway with the observation that the internet has revolutionized the media and society, and has changed and will continue to change the political process.

                          • Rome
                            • 12 October 2011
                             
                             

                            Culture, politics, the economy: Italy’s national interest, from the country’s unification to the present day

                              In the beginning, there was the catch-cry of “liberty and independence”: the Risorgimento ideal par excellence, expressing the longing of generations of those aspiring for an Italian nation, who – from the Congress of Vienna to 1861, as well as in the bellicose sequels of the following decade – devoted their thoughts and deeds and blood and hopes to the unification of Italy.

                            • Rome
                              • 10 October 2011
                               
                               

                              China and the European crisis

                                This international roundtable, which saw the participation of a delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided an opportunity to discuss developments in the euro crisis and China’s views regarding the same. The core issue debated regarded the nature of the crisis and the motives behind the speculative attacks against certain countries.

                              • Milan
                                • 26 September 2011
                                 
                                 

                                Venture capital and start-ups: boosting innovation and youth employment

                                  The participants at this roundtable session observed that Italy has long been a country that, paradoxically, is brimming with ideas yet marked by scant innovation and little skilled employment for the young talent chiefly responsible for these ideas. The abundant and inexpensive intellectual resources on hand are held back by a combination of a poor aptitude for project creation and poor communication among the various actors who are in a position to ensure that good ideas translate into great innovations.

                                • Rome
                                  • 14 September 2011
                                   
                                   

                                  Sharing our future: forging an alliance between state and market for a new social contract

                                    At this roundtable session dedicated to the future of Italy’s pension system, it was observed that population aging, the impending retirement of the baby boomer generation, the prolonged period of economic stagnation currently being experienced and dwindling public resources are driving Italy, as well as most other developed nations, to tackle questions regarding the relationship between the role of public and private social security schemes. Today, pensions, healthcare and welfare, in their various forms, are no longer being delivered solely by the state.

                                  • Milan
                                    • 25 July 2011
                                     
                                     

                                    New forms of poverty: social, economic and political implications

                                      This National Conference got underway with the observation that, in Italy as in Europe, emerging forms of poverty have mainly affected segments of the population that were previously relatively protected but that have now become socially and economically vulnerable. This phenomenon has also been accompanied by the onset of other hardships, stemming from the intensification of migration flows.

                                    • Rome
                                      • 13 July 2011
                                       
                                       

                                      Energy: in search of the right mix

                                        The panelists at the presentation of the latest issue of Aspenia emphasized that the search for a better energy mix should start with the premise that there is no magic formula. The most prudent choices – whether political or business – must be forward-looking, that is, not merely focused on short-term needs. It was conceded, however, that no energy mix can fully meet all the criteria for an ideal blend, including: security of supply, market competitiveness, and low environmental impact.