Opinions

In times of economic crisis, culture is too often seen as just another economic sector that does not generate big profits, and thus is subject to budget cuts. This view fails to consider the many other ways in which culture can be beneficial to society

Lower emissions and gasoline consumption for new vehicles: the environment is now a major factor in the development and marketing of automobiles. The earth is thankful, but governments are also having to deal with a significant drop in tax receipts from fuel sales

The growth forecast for the next two years is strong, and not only due to expectations surroundings the great sporting event. President Rousseff's economic and industrial policies are increasing productivity, expanding exports and building needed infrastructure

With goverment suppliers waiting over two years to be paid in parts of Italy, a new law decrees much quicker terms - as did a previous proposals. What's really needed for jump-starting growth are simplification, relaxation of the Stability Pact and budget rebalancing

As the Milano Design Week approaches, the Italian furniture industry needs to take stock of its potential and vulnerabilities. Public incentives are needed to support Italian design excellence in times of crisis and help small and medium producers create export opportunities

In spite of historical markets like Europe and Japan being in recession, watchmaking is still a growth industry. Timepiece producers are integrating innovative technologies and new materials, but the classic mechanical gold watch remains the bestseller today