Skip to content

National Programs

  • Milan
    • 17 June 2013
     
     

    E‐commerce, security, distribution channels: opportunities and challenges for businesses and consumers

      At this national roundtable discussion, it was observed that the global phenomenon known as e-commerce is bringing about a paradigm shift in distribution models for products and services. In a scenario of constantly increasing online sales, growth in this sector seems unlikely to slow down, thanks also to the spread of new technologies – such as smartphones and tablets – that are making the consumer experience even more effortless. Globally, the number of cell phones far exceeds not only that of televisions, but also mundane everyday items such as toothbrushes.

    • Rome
      • 19 April 2013
       
       

      Italian talent abroad

        Kicking off discussions at this National Interest event was the assertion that innovation is a complex ecosystem – an Amazonian forest in which every actor has a different role to play, but where the contribution of each is essential. While scientific and technological research is a key driver of innovation, it is not the only one. Also required is the input of public and private actors, big business and small pioneering start-ups, venture capitalists and deep and liquid stock markets, and young innovators with entrepreneurial flair and well-established mentors.

      • Milan
        • 4 November 2013
         
         

        Does Italy’s important industrial sector still have a future?

          Participants at this roundtable session were of a consensus that Italy still has an effective industrial system, and may continue to do so as long as a major restructure is undertaken so as to provide a boost for a great swathe of firms that are currently wavering between the boon of opportunities offered by global growth and the risk of being marginalized.

        • Milan
          • 20 May 2013
           
           

          Italy’s food and agriculture industry: a key sector for global markets

            Discussions at this National Conference hinged on the central observation that the Italian economy can only be revived by capitalizing on the country’s flagship production sectors, with the food and agricultural industry singled out as being of prime importance. Indeed, it was noted that the sector has continued to be a standard-bearer for “Made in Italy” excellence even amid the economic downturn.

          • Rome
            • 17 April 2013
             
             

            Electoral reform for Italy

              In this national roundtable session devoted to examining the nature of electoral reform required in Italy, the opening premise to the discussions was that modern debate on this issue primarily hinges on a straightforward question, namely: does the state of the electorate directly mirror the prevailing electoral system, or does the latter have little impact on the outcome of elections and associated divisions within the electorate?

            • Rome
              • 18 September 2013
               
               

              Italy’s welfare system: living with risk

                At this roundtable session dealing with the future of Italy’s welfare system, the participants observed that tackling the issue of risk management requires the resolution of an evident paradox, namely, that while the risks to which households and firms are exposed are becoming greater in number and increasingly serious, the public resources needed to address them are in ever more limited supply.

              • Rome
                • 13 November 2013
                 
                 

                Modernizing Italy’s public administration for people and business

                  It was noted at this national roundtable discussion that, according to the two most well-known systems for measuring the level of economic freedom existing in a country, the extent to which public authorities function well is a fundamental indicator of the same. Similarly, it is widely acknowledged that in countries where the functioning of the public administration meets the expectations of citizens, people can even be amenable to a high level of taxation.

                • Milan
                  • 7 October 2013
                   
                   

                  Banks and the real economy: rethinking roles, responsibilities and rules

                    Attendees at this National Conference examining the Italian banking sector noted that, according to economic theory, the financial system has a fundamental role to play in intermediating savings, allowing an efficient allocation of capital with consequent gains in productivity and wellbeing for the entire economy. In the recent past, however, this primary function has been compounded by others that have contributed to a distortion of the financial sector’s role and its relationship with the real economy.

                  • Milan
                    • 4 June 2012
                     
                     

                    Striking a balance between a fair tax system and economic growth in Italy

                      Proceedings at this National Roundtable examining the link between fiscal equity and growth in Italy got underway with the observation that, according to the Italian Constitution, taxation, as well as enabling the delivery of services and benefits essential to the welfare and progress of citizens, should also help overcome social inequalities through the application of redistributive justice criteria. This principle of “fairness” in setting tax levels takes on an even greater significance when, as is currently happening, social and economic disparities widen.

                    • Rome
                      • 15 April 2012
                       
                       

                      Italian leaders abroad

                        The fourth edition of the “Italian Leaders Abroad” conference was inaugurated with a speech by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti. The meeting gave rise to a proposal by Aspen Institute Italia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education to form a joint task force in order to reinforce the international network of scientists, researchers and companies active in the field of research.

                      • Rome
                        • 30 May 2012
                         
                         

                        The labor market, competitiveness and human capital

                          The participants at this National Conference noted that for decades the relationship between labor and capital in Italy seems to have swung periodically between the antitheses of cooperation and conflict – of subscribing to a shared mission and engaging in confrontation as a matter of principle. Ranged on one side has been a notion which views a business as a community of men and women intent on achieving shared objectives, and on the other has been a more class-conscious approach, grounded in the competing interests of all the various actors in the labor market.

                        • Milan
                          • 16 July 2012
                           
                           

                          Beyond growth: in search of a new and sustainable development

                            At this national roundtable dedicated to the quest for a sustainable development model, it was noted by way of preface that overcoming the crisis and returning to past growth is the outlook – or imperative, hope or delusion, depending on your point of view – which has dominated public debate, analyses, scenarios and action plans in Western countries in recent years.

                          • Rome
                            • 13 June 2012
                             
                             

                            The power of the net: new challenges for leaders

                              Opening up discussions at this national roundtable on the power of the web was the observation that the internet has changed the face of politics, especially in terms of the processes of building consensus and managing leadership. There were already clear signs of this in Barack Obama’s winning election campaign of 2008, with two million supporters marshaled via the net, 8 and a half million unique visitors to the main campaign website, 13 million newsletter subscribers and 30 million dollars raised in online donations.

                            • Milan
                              • 8 October 2012
                               
                               

                              Implementing a digital agenda to spur Italy’s economic growth

                                This national roundtable examining the ramifications of implementing Italy’s digital agenda got underway with the participants citing a few statistics on point. Firstly, it was noted that the internet economy contributes 2% to Italy’s GDP – the same as agriculture, but with a potential of at least double that, thus bringing levels seen in England or Sweden within reach for the country.

                              • Milano
                                • 7 May 2012
                                 
                                 

                                Reforming welfare in Italy: public and private sectors for a new social pact

                                  At this roundtable session dedicated to the subject of Italian welfare reform, it was noted that European welfare models have come under pressure from major demographic, economic and social changes, including progressively aging populations, rising expectations for healthcare, increased risks of non-self-sufficiency, sporadic employment and income, and concerns over public debt, which have conspired to make healthcare and welfare systems devised in the past gradually more unsustainable.

                                • Milan
                                  • 3 December 2012
                                   
                                   

                                  Biotechnologies and life sciences in Italy: new measures to stimulate competitiveness

                                    The participants in this National Roundtable observed, by way of opening premise, that biotechnology is a scientific field offering great prospects and within which Italy could play an important role. Indeed, the country boasts a high level of training and outstanding expertise in the sector. The projected rewards, including of a financial nature, are quite considerable, with attractive prospects from an industrial point of view.

                                  • Rome
                                    • 14 March 2012
                                     
                                     

                                    The future of Italian television

                                      This national roundtable got underway with the observation that the digital revolution which began in the late 1990s has radically changed the world of television. Today, audiovisual content can be found on the internet, smartphones and tablet computers: transmission capacity has been boosted, general-interest TV is losing audience shares and the level of user customization is on the rise. Industry models are also changing – and fast. In the near future, the models for making television, delivering it to audiences, and making it attractive to advertisers will be very different.

                                    • Rome
                                      • 3 October 2012
                                       
                                       

                                      Reducing Italy’s public debt: is selling public assets a solution?

                                        Kick-starting discussions at this national roundtable event was the observation that few subjects have lent themselves as well in Italian public debate to the vivid use of metaphors as has the scale of the country’s public debt, often described as a mountain to be climbed, a dead weight, or as tantamount to a mortgage on Italy’s future. The actual figure is indeed staggering, amounting to nearly 2 trillion euros, and exceeding 123% of GDP.