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      • Venice
        • 4 May 2007
         
         

        Human capital, businesses & social capital: synergies for growth and competitiveness

          The seminar on “Human capital, businesses & social capital: synergies for growth and competitiveness”, held as part of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders program, examined the growing influence of human capital in determining the competitiveness of Italy’s economic system in globalized markets. It was recalled that human capital plays a key role in terms of the internationalization of businesses and the governance of complex organizations.

        • Venice
          • 4 May 2007
           
           

          Consumption and the consumer: new realities, new scenarios

            The seminar on “Consumption and the consumer: new realities, new scenarios”, held as part of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders program, focused on the awareness that consumption is not only economically significant but is also impacting on social dynamics to a greater extent. Consumers, having become disenchanted, autonomous and prone to shopping around, are increasingly making their purchases online.

          • Venice
            • 4 May 2007
             
             

            The demographic revolution: implications for society and business

              The seminar on “The demographic revolution: implications for society and business”, held as part of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders program, examined the consequences of the net fall in population growth and the increased life expectancy of Europeans, as well as the consequent impact on the economic system. Growing migration flows need to be managed with a view to integration and stability by formulating the necessary institutional responses to deal with the spread of the phenomenon.

            • Rome
              • 17 April 2007
               
               

              New independent Authorities in Italy: rules, market and consumers

                In Italy, the dynamic development of the public regulatory authorities which took place throughout the 1990s was at times chaotic and unmanageable. It was unquestionably marked by haphazard rules, unsuitable for guaranteeing real independence, accountability and transparency. During the last two legislatures, lawmakers conducted studies and drew up regulation to reform the public regulatory authorities. On February 2, the Council of Ministers approved a bill on market regulation and supervision and the rules and powers of the public regulatory authorities.

              • Rome
                • 20 March 2007
                 
                 

                Integration, security and immigration: a challenge for Italy

                  With current statistics on immigration to Italy to hand, participants at this meeting sought to identify strategies and formulate proposals to regulate migratory flows here and throughout Europe. Local administrators, politicians from both ends of the spectrum, religious figures, academics, businesspeople and unionists all offered their own experiences and points of view. In particular, participants touched on difficulties in assimilating diverse cultures in the integration process – difficulties suffered both in the hosting countries and in the immigrant communities.

                • Rome
                  • 16 March 2007
                   
                   

                  The Aspen Institute Executive Seminar

                    The Executive Seminar – again, in English and in cooperation with The Aspen Institute – followed the same format as that used in Erba a few days earlier. The initiative was organized for the Aspen Junior Fellows, and involved several Sustaining and Ordinary Members, Friends of Aspen and other young leaders from Italy and abroad. The vastly different geographic origins, age and professions of the participants led to a lively discussion.

                  • Erba
                    • 9 March 2007
                     
                     

                    The Aspen Institute Executive Seminar

                      The first Aspen Executive Seminar – held in English and in cooperation with The Aspen Institute – was recently organized in Erba, near Milan. The Executive Seminars are a pivotal program at The Aspen Institute in the US, and they proved a successful venture on Italian soil as well. Two expert American moderators led the discussions: Howard Zeiderman, Director, Executive Seminars at The Aspen Institute and professor of philosophy at a number of American universities and Leigh Hafrey, Professor of Ethics at the Sloan School of Management del Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

                    • Milan
                      • 26 February 2007
                       
                       

                      Governance and leadership in complex organizations

                        Globalization of markets and cultures, the rise of new world powers, the rapid progress made in the field of ICT and the continuous growth in efficiency levels in all sectors, favour the growth of new complex organizations in all sectors, from business to politics and society. These require clear and efficient regulations which can guarantee their perfect functioning in an ever changing environment. In this context, human resources are once again the number one asset for every organization intending to compete at an international level.

                      • Rome
                        • 22 February 2007
                         
                         

                        Alternative energy sources

                          The discussion analyzed the various ways to encourage the use of alternative sources of energy; an issue which has been widely discussed in the past and now brings us to discover and experiment innovative solutions such as carbon sequestration or new generation photovoltaic cells which may lead us to a change in our usual habits. Energy saving, nuclear power, carbon and renewable energy sources are prime candidates in bringing their contribution to the solution of a crisis determined by the scarcity of oil fields.

                        • Washington
                          • 4 February 2007
                           
                           

                          Making energy secure: today’s challenges for a sustainable future

                            This international workshop focused on the new role energy is playing in global relations, with particular attnetion to the complex relationship between Russia and the European Union as regards energy security. Participants pointed out the need, especially in the West, to diversify supply sources.

                          • Milan
                            • 29 January 2007
                             
                             

                            Finance and insurance for the global economy

                              The Milan roundtable focused on ongoing transformations that link the finance sector with that of insurance companies in the vastly changed global scenario, especially in consideration of newly emerging economies. Particular attention was paid to the tricky issue of export credit insurance, a sector seriously affected by this changed environment. In the current international context, new players are constantly appearing and value systems have to cross national boundaries.

                            • Berlin
                              • 24 February 2006
                               
                               

                              Germany: the key to unlock Europe?

                                Aspen Institute Italia dedicates the fifteenth edition of its Aspen European Dialogue to the topic Germany: the key to unlock Europe? This year’s international conference took place in Berlin, on February 24-25. The Conference started with the analysis of Germany’s new priorities: the Grand Coalition’s first decisions and challenges, social/welfare reforms, fiscal iussue and relations with Europe. The discussion then extended to the EU as a whole and possible strategies to foster economic growth and reinforce the eurozone. The debate also focused on the importance of new budget policies.

                              • Rome
                                • 1 December 2006
                                 
                                 

                                Business and democracy: bringing the Middle East out of crisis

                                  Aspen Italia’s annual Transatlantic Dialogue focused this year on persistent widespread instability in the Middle East. Various ideas for pragmatic solutions were proposed, though no strikingly positive developments were foreseen any time soon. The first day of debate focused on interdependency between free trade and democratization in a strategic framework, and in particular on gradually opening markets and reforming governments.

                                • Rome
                                  • 30 November 2006
                                   
                                   

                                  The Aspen Women’s workshop

                                    The workshop, a novelty for the Institute, was made up entirely of female participants of the utmost authority and prestige. Various issues were discussed: repression of women in Arab countries, social and cultural changes needed to improve conditions and strengthen the economic development of women around the world. Participants highlighted certain obstacles hindering women’s aspirations, such as diverse interpretations of Islamic law, illiteracy and, most of all, poverty.

                                  • Milan
                                    • 27 November 2006
                                     
                                     

                                    Meritocracy and competitiveness: can they go hand in hand?

                                      Discussion opened with an analysis of how tomorrow’s leaders might approach the issue of meritocracy, especially as regards politics, and closed with an analysis of how to apply that meritocracy to the formation of human resources – from school to on-the-job training. The underlying issue is whether the demand for meritocracy is purely utopian in Italy’s economic and social context.

                                    • Rome
                                      • 16 November 2006
                                       
                                       

                                      Universities: an engine for Italy’s development. Meritocracy and competition

                                        Discussion focused on Italy’s system of higher education, in a search for new strategies and proposals to relaunch the nation’s universities’ competitiveness. Participation by the deans of important schools in Italy and abroad as well as Italian researchers with experience in the US rendered the debate particularly fruitful. Issues discussed included the public and private financing of higher learning and how best to make use of the limited funds available.

                                      • Rome
                                        • 9 November 2006
                                         
                                         

                                        The future of Italy’s television

                                          During the roundtable, participants discussed several fundamental aspects of the ongoing transition to a very different sort of television. By 2012, tv will be made up of a sort of “digital pie” in three pieces: paid and free satellite – with hundreds of channels; cable – with sixty or so channels; and IP – with hundreds, or even thousands of channels, including accessible libraries and programs on demand. Markets will change accordingly, as will the primary players and the norms regulating it all. To this end, participants considered the Italian Gentiloni Bill on television reform.

                                        • Venice
                                          • 13 October 2006
                                           
                                           

                                          Public works and infrastructure for Italy

                                            “Public works and infrastructure for Italy”, another of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders, focused on the need to relaunch the debate on public works and infrastructure programming in Italy. The discussion also centered on whether an actual plan or simply a framework of reference is needed, on how to identify the decision-makers and on how decisions can be kept in line with available resources.