Opinions

A number of factors contributed to the Greek financial crisis, most of them linked to the EU's weak governance. Convergence of fiscal and budget policies among member nations was left to wishful thinking rather than enforceable policy, and the results are plain to see

Legislation has been passed to guarantee the origin of upscale Italian products, but it could end up having some unintended consequences. It also signals a siege mentality, a protectionist frame of mind that could ultimately run against the market priorities of Italian exporters

Market share of more expensive products is growing: in 2009, one out of three goods was priced 30% more than the average. In a context where cheap discount distribution is also gaining share, the middle ground is shrinking as consumer loyalty is courted by the extremes

Creative industries: certain definitions have been made obsolete in a post-industrial world. Purely quantitative assessments are fine for judging industrial productivity, but it is high time to restore value to the many contributions made by culture and the arts

Managerial education: a look at the evolution of business schools and their relations with companies, according to SDA Bocconi School of Management, which is in the top echelon of European executive education. The trend is toward tailor-made Corporate Master courses

Since 2008, employment has dropped in the Southern regions, where the employment rate was already comparably lower. Without a concerted effort to rebuild labor relations and create incentives for manufacturers, the North-South gap will only widen