National Conference

Demographic waves, technological innovation and citizens’ expectations: these are today’s major challenges. And, in the years to come, healthcare will become an increasingly important issue in all major countries with advanced economies and welfare systems. In the Italian system, the healthcare challenge is particularly crucial as it represents the largest public expenditure after pensions. Healthcare and pensions absorb all those resources that could be made available for other social policies.

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.

Next Generation Networks (NGN) are true information highways, along which great amounts of information can flow. Their technological neutrality allows them to offer services that are independent of current networks. This novelty presents an opportunity to increase Italy’s competitiveness: to take advantage of it, the country must make swift and substantial investments – both private and public – as well as important political and legal decisions. In particular, Italy will have to resolve some sticky problems, building new infrastructure and splitting up networks.

The conference stemmed from an analysis of how the Made in Italy label is perceived in major countries. The debate highlighted that, although businesses operating in the so-called three “F” sectors of the Italian economy (namely, food, fashion and furniture) are sought after, outside Italy there is recognition of the existence of other areas of excellence which deserve to be rewarded.

The conference “Politics and anti-politics” highlighted many of the historic problems in the Italians’ relationship with politics. Italians have not always been so detached from the institutions and their representatives. The unpopularity of politics today can be explained first by the fact that it is perceived as a way of occupying public space and not as a service to the citizen. Secondly, Italians generally view their politicians as immoral, extremely expensive and inefficient.

The underlying premise of the Conference discussions was that the future and competitiveness of Italy depend on the further development of the country’s research sphere and on the productivity of its university system. Greater investment is thus needed, as are, above all, new rules and new organizational models which ensure a leading European role for the country in sectors where Italy already holds a strong position and which enable it to face the challenges posed by the United States, China and India.

This conference dealt with strategic themes of great current interest, highlighting the economic feedback made possible by investment in the biotechnology sector. Participants focussed on how both the private and public sector can improve research opportunities and on the need to identify areas of excellence in which to best capitalize on Italian capacity, so as to attract national and foreign capital. Several proposals were made to favor the link between public research, private research, industry and the market: it was agreed that the “brain drain” must be reversed.

Public infrastructure is key to relaunching Italy’s competitiveness; they also demand involvement on various levels: state, regional and local. European directives shake up the Italian regime as well, forcing adaptation to the Merloni law and a re-evaluation of the role of the General Contractor. Participants at this discussion focussed on identifying the enormous financial resources necessary for large public works. To this end, they stressed not only the role of the European Investment Bank and the Italian state, but new and innovative tools of project financing.

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.

This conference, part of the Italy’s Current Affairs series, highlighted a number of proposals to favor competitiveness and to guarantee quality service but sustainable costs for both companies and consumers. Participants agreed that greater liberalization is called for in professions and in services that could, in turn, bring significant advantages to the country and its citizens. Particular attention was paid to the question of public utility ownership and to the risks and opportunities inherent in a total lack of state control.

The conference of the series “Italy’s current affairs” entitled “Industrial districts, the Italian brand and laboratories: relaunching a successful scheme” was held in Milan on January 30th. During the meeting it was once again underlined how industrial districts – strategic component of the Italian economy – are undergoing a delicate evolution which requires careful monitoring.

This conference focussed on possible options for a better national energy program, able to guarantee both security and efficiency. Discussions touched on how responsibility should be divvied up between institutions, the private sector and public administrations as well as between local, regional and European governments. Participants considered Italy’s high energy costs, its supply difficulties and imbalances as regards access to and provision of energy resources.

This conference focused on the demands faced by the future city. Big cities will have to attract, involve and assimilate ever greater numbers of people, who, in turn, will be seeking ever greater efficiency without sacrificing beauty and cultural identity. In an increasingly multicultural environment, cities are searching for new tools to render diverse elements compatible: smooth production processes, pleasing aesthetics and social cohesion. The also have to succeed in attracting tourism and then to manage it in a sustainable fashion.

The conference examined the new regulations and their adequacy in protecting private investors and determining appropriate market dynamics. Particular attention was paid to the new law its accuracy in defining property, management and control. The second session focused on the new model for controlling authorities and the role of the independent authorities and management. Participants also discussed potential conflicts between the different functions of the Bank of Italy; namely monetary, controlling and competition authorities.

This conference identified a series of risks and opportunities for financing innovation. Policies are difficult to draw up, just as innovation is different to pin down. The first obstacle is uncertainty: naturally, it is impossible to foresee the results of research and plan the market’s reaction to a new product or service. As the outcome of an innovative venture is unknown, so is the conviction of the person innovating and the person sponsoring that innovation unbalanced.

This conference focussed on relaunching Italy’s economy in terms of productivity, training and flexibility. The debate revolved around the following issues: those measures best suited to making the system more competitive, new policies to improve human resources, the means to better integrate immigrants and women in the working population, proposals to lower labor costs and to increase flexibility in the labor market, the welfare state, and labor protection laws.

Italy, thanks to the wealth of its artistic, cultural and natural heritage, has always been a leader in the tourism sector. Today, however, this is no longer enough: Italy’s tourism sector is suffering a crisis and in order to overcome it, precise and timely political and industrial strategies are called for. What is the product to be sold? What tools are needed to sell it? Italy will lead the competition only where “Made in Italy” still holds meaning and value. The sector should focus on high professionality, multidimensional growth and innovation.

Participants discussed risks and opportunities springing from the new international accounting standards. They considered, in particular, consequences on budgets, net assets, and aggregation processes. They also reflected on difficulties the new system will cause for businesses and how businesspeople are preparing. The conference ended with a discussion of the new relationship between banks and businesses that the Basel 2 Accord will soon create, and of how the Accord’s credit risk innovations will condition that relationship.