Italy: The Sheltered Economy: Structural Problems in the Italian Economy - Hardcover

by Fiorella P. Schioppa (Author), Fiorella Padoa-Schioppa (Author), Schioppa Padoa (Author)

Based on the results of a three year empirical study analyzing the Italian economy, this work focuses on the role of state and private economic agents. Italy has a huge and interventionist governmental economic policy. Professor Padoa Schioppa Kostoris argues that much of this state action and regulation is irrational and counter-efficient. She further argues that the Italian economy is also characterized by a large and efficient black market, so that much of the private sector already evades state control. Since de facto deregulation therefore exists to a large extent, Kostoris calls for legal deregulation and privatization. She convincingly argues that a decrease in and an altered character of state action will enable the Italian economy to achieve higher growth, and to reconcile the goals of efficiency and public interest.

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Italy has a huge and interventionist governmental economic policy: the general government spends over 50% of the Gross Domestic Product. Professor Padoa Schioppa Kostoris argues that much of this public action and regulation is irrational and counter-efficient. For example, the author analyses the role of taxes and subsidies, and concludes that these are accorded without any regard to their implications; illustrates that national wage equalization fails to allow the South to compete for industry on the grounds of lower labour costs; argues that private capital investment is often 'crowded out' by public money, and reveals inefficiencies in the provision of public services. Professor Padoa Schioppa Kostoris then argues that the Italian economy is also characterised by a large and efficient 'black market', and that much of the private sector already evades the command and control imposed by the state. Since de facto deregulation therefore exists to a large extent in the Italian economy, the author calls for legal deregulation and privatisation. She argues that a decrease in and an altered character of public action will enable the Italian economy to achieve higher rates of growth, and to reconcile the goals of efficiency and public interest.