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      • Cernobbio
        • 5 November 2010
         
         

        The future of currencies: the post-crisis monetary and financial system. Implications for business

          The complexities of the current global macroeconomic situation are pushing the world economy in many different directions. The US is undertaking a second round of quantitative easing in order to buy protection against a deflationary risk. China is slowly allowing the RMB to appreciate while preparing the next 5 year plan as it transitions from an economy with unlimited resources and limited interactions with the rest to the world into an economy that is starting to feel a deteriorating growth/inflation trade off and is becoming a key player in international trade and markets.

        • Cernobbio
          • 5 November 2010
           
           

          The industrial system, territory and social cohesion

            This seminar got underway with the participants noting that the Italian industrial system has succeeded in weathering the global crisis whilst maintaining the country’s position as a leading manufacturer both in Europe and worldwide. The more or less stable performance of the Italian production system has enabled the economy to respond to stimulus, though the signs of recovery remain weak.

          • Cernobbio
            • 5 November 2010
             
             

            Tangible infrastructure: driving competitiveness

              This session focused on the crucial role played by infrastructure in any given country’s economic development. It was observed that an adequate endowment of tangible infrastructure is a necessary prerequisite for competing in the global market, and that boosting infrastructure levels is an undeniable priority both for Italy and for Europe. The question of trans-European infrastructure is especially gaining increasing importance.

            • Cernobbio
              • 5 November 2010
               
               

              Italy and future challenges. Heading towards 2020

                This session of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders examined various institutional scenarios, viewed from the perspective of changes taking place at the European and global level and the reform processes that these call for within Italy. It was observed that, on the one hand, the search for more stable global macroeconomic balances has been accompanied by European debate concerning the tightening of fiscal regulation, changes to the Growth and Stability Pact, and putting in place adequate mechanisms to deal with emergency situations.

              • Cernobbio
                • 5 November 2010
                 
                 

                Investing in knowledge: more innovation, better infrastructure, new school system

                  In this seminar, the participants examined what were identified as the major areas requiring action to enable Italy to face the new and increasingly impelling global challenges. The three areas singled out were: innovation policies, tangible and intangible knowledge-system infrastructure, and education models conducive to promoting employment and competitiveness.

                • Cernobbio
                  • 5 November 2010
                   
                   

                  Culture, leadership, social responsibility

                    The discussion in this session focused on the role of culture in the wake of the global crisis. In this regard, the participants highlighted the increasing search for a more harmonious, sustainable and forward-looking social model, yet one that is anchored in the roots of national identity. With the global crisis, this quest for a new kind of paradigm of development has, even in Italy, once again focused what perhaps was otherwise languishing interest on the crucial importance of “culture”.

                  • Milano
                    • 25 October 2010
                     
                     

                    Kick-starting professional training

                      The participants launched proceedings at this National Conference with the observation that the role of technical and professional training institutes, once the powerhouse of the postwar economic boom in Italy, has been steadily declining since the early 1970s, with enrollment numbers falling inexorably. The result is that, today, these key components of Italy’s education system are no longer capable of supporting the country’s economic development, nor of keeping pace with technological advances.

                    • Milan
                      • 18 October 2010
                       
                       

                      Leading in Europe, Leading Europe

                        The challenges, opportunities and constraints facing future generations is the recurring theme of the Aspen Junior Fellow Breakfasts, examined from an international perspective. In this breakfast debate, it was acknowledged that Europe, despite the level of prosperity, social cohesion and intellectual output it has achieved, is progressively offering fewer opportunities than other geographical areas.

                      • Rome
                        • 13 October 2010
                         
                         

                        Western democracies under pressure

                          The members of the first panel analyzed the multiple repercussions of the crisis that began in 2008 on the Western economies, as well as on their political systems and societies. The impact has been profound, putting in question the growth model and the sustainability of the welfare state in its current forms. Major tensions have also emerged between short term needs – such as the bailouts – and longer term goals. The very close link between modern states and capitalism, which in the Western world is captured by the expression “market democracy”, has become more evident than in the past.

                        • Rome
                          • 6 October 2010
                           
                           

                          Reforming Italy’s government and parliament: slight change or complete overhaul?

                            This discussion over the extent of governmental and parliamentary reform required in Italy today commenced with the observation that the currently prevailing approach to institutional reform seems to be rooted in an awareness of the need for cultural change. Thus the debate between whether to carry out the minimum change required or to enact sweeping reforms appears to have been superseded by an approach that leaves behind attempts to pay mere lip service to reform and firmly seeks to address actual needs.

                          • Milan
                            • 27 September 2010
                             
                             

                            SMEs: growth and collaboration in a new global scenario

                              More than three years after the outbreak of the crisis which engulfed the world economy, Italian businesses have shown that they have, on the whole, withstood the impact of the economic and financial tsunami. The country remains the fifth-ranking global manufacturing power and the second in Europe after Germany, running counter to the trend that has seen a progressive reduction in the market shares of traditional industrial economies – the US and Japan in particular.

                            • Milan
                              • 20 September 2010
                               
                               

                              Italy’s savings: how to make it work for the country’s development

                                The Conference got underway with an acknowledgement that savings have played a key role in maintaining Italy’s stability during the more acute phases of the recent financial crisis, and may play an even more important role now as a driver of the country’s economic recovery and growth.

                              • Rome
                                • 17 September 2010
                                 
                                 

                                Challenges for the Alliance ahead of the NATO Summit and beyond

                                  The Secretary General laid out the most urgent priorities for the Alliance, in the run up to the new Strategic Concept which will be adopted at the November Summit in Lisbon. Besides the ongoing commitments – first and foremost the Afghanistan mission, which is almost certainly going through a decisive phase – there are great medium and long-term challenges in the effort to adapt NATO to a rapidly shifting global context.

                                • Milan
                                  • 26 July 2010
                                   
                                   

                                  New international strategies to support Italian business

                                    The financial crisis has considerably modified the environment in which Italian firms operate. It has introduced new problems in the export sector that are related not only to structural changes in the capital markets but also to difficulties in accessing credit.

                                  • Rome
                                    • 15 July 2010
                                     
                                     

                                    Federalism and the challenges presented by Italy’s South

                                      Federalism is now at the center of the Italian political debate, despite having been considered a heterodox if not inflammatory idea not even a decade ago. Reassigning roles and responsibilities among the different levels and bodies of government is a necessity shared by all advanced democracies given the increased complexity of our economies and of the relationship between citizens and the state.

                                    • Madrid
                                      • 8 July 2010
                                       
                                       

                                      After the crisis: Europe and Latin America

                                        Given the current uncertainty over the global economy’s recovery, interest in the prospects of the South American continent, which seems finally able to express its true potential, has increased. All too often the expectations over the EU / Latin American accords have been set too high. Today, the increase in commercial and financial exchange are guided by a bottom-up logic; promising forms of interdependence are emerging in a pragmatic way and are producing concrete benefits.

                                      • Milan
                                        • 5 July 2010
                                         
                                         

                                        Artists and artisans: resources for Italian workers

                                          The roundtable session got underway with an acknowledgement by the participants of the crucial importance of reviving Italy’s artisan culture – a tradition synonymous with the production of high-quality goods through the accumulation, pooling and dissemination of know-how.