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National Programs

  • 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
                  • 17 January 2011
                   
                   

                  The meaning of growth: paradigms, old and new

                    Once upon a time, there was GDP. Or rather, once there was “just” GDP, understood as an aggregate indicator used to measure a country’s economic growth by quantifying the flow of goods and services for end-use and produced within a certain period of time in a given territory.

                  • Rome
                    • 6 July 2011
                     
                     

                    The role of international businesses in Italy’s economic growth

                      This roundtable saw those in attendance debate the role that foreign-owned firms play in the Italian economy, particularly with a view to identifying approaches and measures that could enable foreign direct investment inflows to be improved.

                    • Rome
                      • 8 February 2011
                       
                       

                      Priority interventions in Italy’s south: avoiding a two-speed country

                        Debate at this National Interest Conference got underway with the observation that overcoming the social and economic divide between Northern and Southern Italy requires a profound rethink of intervention policies together with an overall return to efficiency and effectiveness in public action.

                      • Rome
                        • 7 June 2011
                         
                         

                        Reforming corporate governance: proposals and tools

                          The participants at this National Roundtable noted that, in recent years, the corporate governance of Italian firms has changed in a rapid and decisive – though in some ways haphazard –  manner. This process, which started in the 1990s, particularly in the wake of the wave of privatizations, was intended to make the financial market more attractive to foreign and Italian investors by providing greater guarantees for the protection of minority shareholders.

                        • Milan
                          • 11 April 2011
                           
                           

                          The design industry: value added for Italy’s economic growth

                            Added value of over 140 billion euros and employment for around 3.3 million people: this was the snapshot, in figures, presented at this National Interest roundtable session of the engine of Italy’s manufacturing system, driven by the country’s leading sectors – the so-called “4 Fs” of the Made-in-Italy industry: Ferrari cars and non-electronic machinery and equipment, fashion and clothing, food and beverage, and furniture and wood products.

                          • Milan
                            • 25 July 2011
                             
                             

                            New forms of poverty: social, economic and political implications

                              This National Conference got underway with the observation that, in Italy as in Europe, emerging forms of poverty have mainly affected segments of the population that were previously relatively protected but that have now become socially and economically vulnerable. This phenomenon has also been accompanied by the onset of other hardships, stemming from the intensification of migration flows.

                            • Rome
                              • 1 March 2011
                               
                               

                              Information services in the security sector: protecting Italy’s national interest

                                Discussions at this National Roundtable commenced with an acknowledgement by the participants that the global economic arena is no longer characterized by competition played out solely between businesses, but rather sees national economies pitched against each other ever more fiercely.

                                This trend has led to a gradual widening of the concept of “national security”, with many States now including economic and financial security within the ambit of this term.

                              • Rome
                                • 14 September 2011
                                 
                                 

                                Sharing our future: forging an alliance between state and market for a new social contract

                                  At this roundtable session dedicated to the future of Italy’s pension system, it was observed that population aging, the impending retirement of the baby boomer generation, the prolonged period of economic stagnation currently being experienced and dwindling public resources are driving Italy, as well as most other developed nations, to tackle questions regarding the relationship between the role of public and private social security schemes. Today, pensions, healthcare and welfare, in their various forms, are no longer being delivered solely by the state.

                                • Milan
                                  • 21 February 2011
                                   
                                   

                                  How the financial system can support growth

                                    This national roundtable discussion got underway with the observation that, traditionally, the banking system has played a key role in economic growth by channeling personal savings into financing the productive activities of businesses.

                                  • Rome
                                    • 26 October 2011
                                     
                                     

                                    Eurobonds: the intricate relations between politics and economics

                                      Discussions at this national roundtable session got underway with the observation that the idea of introducing European public debt securities – or so-called Eurobonds – is not a new one: indeed, it dates back to 1993 when Jacques Delors proposed, albeit in embryonic form, the issuance of European bonds to finance investment in European Community infrastructure.

                                    • Rome
                                      • 27 April 2011
                                       
                                       

                                      Information services in the security sector: protecting Italy’s financial and industrial system

                                        The participants at this National Roundtable opened the discussion by observing that following the reform of the Italian intelligence services, the activities of the relevant agencies are no longer confined to the protection of the political and military interests of the country, but also extend to defending its “economic, scientific and industrial” interests.

                                      • Milan
                                        • 28 November 2011
                                         
                                         

                                        The “green economy”: new opportunities for Italy

                                          The key objective to emerge from the discussions at this National Conference was that of transforming a constraint into an opportunity. The green economy must be made the cornerstone of a new, more sustainable and enduring development model. It was observed that, in recent years, particularly in the wake of the protracted effects of the worst economic and financial crisis in recent history, the world has begun to stop treating the “environmental factor” as a possible limitation on freedom of enterprise, but rather to see it from a more comprehensive perspective.

                                        • Milan
                                          • 13 June 2011
                                           
                                           

                                          Health and well-being: new models of sustainable development

                                            As an opening premise, the participants at this National Conference noted that any reflection on the future of the Italian national health service must first start with an analysis of the value produced for the country in health terms. In this regard, statistics were cited indicating that between 1951 and the present day, life expectancy in Italy has increased by 1 month every 4 months. Italy also has the longest-lived population in Europe, with over-65s already making up 20% of the population, or 12 million people, of whom 3.5 million are over 80 years old (6%).