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National Programs

  • Rome
    • 6 June 2018
     
     

    Changing the way regulatory watchdogs are governed

      Discussions at this National Interest event devoted to the topic of changing the way independent regulatory watchdogs are governed spanned a number of issues. It was noted that such authorities, representing an embodiment of the widespread phenomenon of polycentric decision-making characteristic of the modern state, emerged in order to meet certain needs of states, such as relieving overburdened parliaments by delegating regulatory functions and introducing a certain degree of pluralism in administrative structures to cope with the increasing frequency of international dealings.

    • Rome
      • 26 September 2018
       
       

      The Italian Public Administration Reform: drivers, achievements, next steps and goals

        Aspen Institute Italia’s aim in organizing this roundtable was to provide an opportunity to reflect on the processes that have characterized public administrative reform in Italy in recent years. In the course of the proceedings, a new Aspen Report was presented entitled “Public-sector reforms in Italy during the 17th legislature: their impetus, outcomes, and objectives”.

      • Palermo
        • 30 September 2018
         
         

        Building a new silk road: Sicily’s role

          Kicking off discussions at this National Conference was the observation that southern Italy’s ports, intermodal facilities, and adjacent hinterland areas have a strategic opportunity within their grasp, with Mediterranean routes now serving as crossroads for global traffic. It was felt, however, that in order to seize these opportunities, medium and long-term choices need to be made, with a commitment at the governmental level to ensure that the right incentives, an apposite regulatory framework, and a coherent vision for pursuing Italy’s economic interests are all in place.

        • Bologna
          • 16 October 2018
           
           

          New citizens and the Italian Constitution’s values

            Aspen Institute Italia’s aim in organizing this roundtable was to foster debate on the challenges involved in integrating foreigners into Italian society. By way of introduction, it was noted that, over the years, the number of foreign nationals permanently residing in Italy has grown steadily and is set to continue to rise, as will the number of immigrants acquiring Italian citizenship. In a very short space of time, Italy’s society has been transformed, in line with what has happened in other countries such as France and the United Kingdom, and can no longer be considered mono-ethnic.

          • Crocetta del Montello (Treviso)
            • 21 February 2018
             
             

            Banks and the real economy: renewing cooperation to boost local development

              The participants at this National Conference noted that after a decade of profound economic and social crisis, some encouraging signs are emerging on a macroeconomic level that lend hope to the possibility of reestablishing a virtuous circle between the financial system, the real economy, and society at large. It was acknowledged, however, that there are still many challenges to be addressed, including regulation and the technological acceleration that has led to the advent of the fintech phenomenon.

            • Rome
              • 15 November 2018
               
               

              Making the most of Italy’s energy resources

                Discussions at this roundtable kicked off with the observation that global economic growth, which has been particularly strong over the past year, has brought with it well-known benefits in terms of development (helping to combat extreme poverty, for instance), yet it has also marked a reversal in the trend of CO2 atmospheric emissions, which, after having stabilized for a three-year period, are rising again at a rate of around 1.5%. This once again poses the question of what measures are needed to decouple growth from emissions.

              • Monza
                • 12 November 2018
                 
                 

                Digital economy development

                  The participants at this national roundtable noted that digitalization is a paradigm that is not only revolutionizing the economy but the whole of society. This transformation transcends geographical boundaries, is not confined to particular sectors, and has also changed the market and the contractual rules that for decades have governed dealings between different economic actors.

                • Milan
                  • 22 January 2018
                   
                   

                  The US Tax reform

                    Discussions at this national roundtable opened with the observation that the tax reforms signed into law by the Trump administration have an air of momentousness about them and have a significant impact on corporate taxation, with the company tax rate reduced from 35% to 21%. The impact on personal income tax is, however, decidedly more modest, with the tax rate cut by merely 2.6 percentage points, dropping from 39.6% to 37%. In addition, the former measure is, at least in theory, permanent, while the latter – for reasons tied to US parliamentary rules – will end in 2025.

                  • Milan
                    • 24 September 2018
                     
                     

                    Italian trade fair sector for a new industrial policy

                      Discussions at this National Conference kicked off with the observation that Italy’s trade-fair sector is a key tool for promoting the country’s economy. Not only do successful events have an important economic impact on the area in which they are hosted, with a potentially greater than tenfold multiplier effect, but trade fairs also offer crucial support to businesses.

                    • Milan
                      • 6 November 2017
                       
                       

                      Creating a better financial system

                        The areas examined by the participants during this National Conference were twofold. On the one hand, the debate focused on the role of the banking system and how it is perceived by savers. It was suggested that banks deal in buying and selling trust, so safeguarding such trust is imperative. Nearly ten years on from the outbreak of the global crisis, such confidence has been severely dented. The media has helped fuel public hostility towards the banking world, as several polls demonstrate.

                      • Milan
                        • 27 February 2017
                         
                         

                        Fighting poverty and favoring social integration: new business models to boost cooperation

                          The participants at this roundtable session noted that, today more than ever, there is a need to formulate responses capable of addressing the impacts of the enduring economic crisis. Statistics were cited indicating that, in Italy, absolute poverty affects over 4 million people, of whom around 1 million are minors, with another 13 million people at risk. In addition, in Italy and Europe, new forms of poverty predominantly involve segments of the population that – from once relatively protected positions – have become vulnerable, thus giving rise to new states of fragility and need.

                        • Milan
                          • 19 June 2017
                           
                           

                          A fair tax system to ensure economic growth for citizens and businesses

                            The participants at this national conference recalled, by way of introduction, that two objectives are pursued through taxation systems, namely: the social purpose of ensuring there are resources for essential community services, and the economic aim of fostering business and investment. It was underlined that these systemic objectives are undermined when fairness and certainty are wanting.

                          • Rome
                            • 15 February 2017
                             
                             

                            Italy’s constitutional reform: searching for common ground

                              The participants at this national roundtable opened their discussions by affirming that the constitutional referendum held in Italy on December 4, 2016 produced a result that leaves no room for doubt: the electorate has rejected the proposed reforms to the Constitution championed by the Renzi government. In 2006, the same fate befell the proposal put forward and supported by a center-right majority.

                            • Milan
                              • 3 July 2017
                               
                               

                              Business as a creative community: changing paradigms

                                Kick-starting discussions at this national conference was the observation that it is customary to consider creativity as an expression of individual genius, or to associate it with an extravagance and fancifulness far removed from the workings of the economy and corporate business. Moreover, the concepts of artistic or aesthetic creativity and economic or productive creativity are often perceived as antithetical.

                              • Milan
                                • 27 March 2017
                                 
                                 

                                Industrial policy and digital transformation

                                  Smart factories, interconnected cities, and fifty billion objects hooked up to the internet by 2020: these were some of the facets of the digital revolution flagged by the roundtable participants as transforming the economic and social fabric of both advanced and developing countries. This ramping-up of technology was regarded as a game-changer, opening the doors to Industry 4.0, the promised benefits of which are manifold, including maximum volume flexibility, faster transition from prototyping to mass production, increased productivity, and reduced waste.