Comments on: The End of the Dolce Vita? http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/the-end-of-the-dolce-vita/ European Opinion Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:00:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Edward http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/the-end-of-the-dolce-vita/#comment-11998 Edward Sat, 03 Dec 2005 11:58:31 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2134#comment-11998 "as well as an attempt to eradicate the flourishing black-market.." This raises an interesting question, since my impression here in Spain is that the continuing inflation and thus continuining declining price competitiveness is serving to drive a lot more economic activity into the 'underground' sector. The large numbers of 'irregular immigrants' arriving is a reflection of this. Something similar seems to have been happening in Italy. So Trichet needs to consider the point that - in the Mediterranean world at least - raising rates, rather than producing the desired structural reforms may rather produce some undesired ones, like an increasing component of GDP being unrecorded. “as well as an attempt to eradicate the flourishing black-market..”

This raises an interesting question, since my impression here in Spain is that the continuing inflation and thus continuining declining price competitiveness is serving to drive a lot more economic activity into the ‘underground’ sector. The large numbers of ‘irregular immigrants’ arriving is a reflection of this. Something similar seems to have been happening in Italy.

So Trichet needs to consider the point that - in the Mediterranean world at least - raising rates, rather than producing the desired structural reforms may rather produce some undesired ones, like an increasing component of GDP being unrecorded.

]]> By: Pancho Villa http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/the-end-of-the-dolce-vita/#comment-11997 Pancho Villa Fri, 02 Dec 2005 21:02:52 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2134#comment-11997 "Italy badly needed a dose of pro-market reforms, liberalisation, privatisation, deregulation and a shake-up of the public administration, all of which Mr Berlusconi had promised." as well as an attempt to eradicate the flourishing black-market... http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/print/2005/03/feature/es0503205f.html “Italy badly needed a dose of pro-market reforms, liberalisation, privatisation, deregulation and a shake-up of the public administration, all of which Mr Berlusconi had promised.”

as well as an attempt to eradicate the flourishing black-market…

http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/print/2005/03/feature/es0503205f.html

]]> By: Claus Vistesen http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/the-end-of-the-dolce-vita/#comment-11996 Claus Vistesen Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:36:48 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2134#comment-11996 A very elaborate post Edward that shows very well the problems and issues Italy as a country and society faces ... If I was to add something that also serves as nail in the coffin of italy's politics it would the recent bank scandal with the central bank director Antonio Fazio http://clausvistesen.squarespace.com/alphasources-blog/2005/9/25/siniscalco-goes-fazio-stays-why.html See also these articles from the Economist http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?Story_id=S%27%28X%24%2FQQ%3F%2B%21P%20L%0A http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?Story_id=S%27%28X%24%2ARA%27%21%23P%20L%0A http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4424836 Cheers Claus Vistesen A very elaborate post Edward that shows very well the problems and issues Italy as a country and society faces … If I was to add something that also serves as nail in the coffin of italy’s politics it would the recent bank scandal with the central bank director Antonio Fazio

http://clausvistesen.squarespace.com/alphasources-blog/2005/9/25/siniscalco-goes-fazio-stays-why.html

See also these articles from the Economist

http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?Story_id=S%27%28X%24%2FQQ%3F%2B%21P%20L%0A

http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?Story_id=S%27%28X%24%2ARA%27%21%23P%20L%0A

http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4424836

Cheers

Claus Vistesen

]]> By: Edward http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/the-end-of-the-dolce-vita/#comment-11995 Edward Fri, 02 Dec 2005 14:45:10 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2134#comment-11995 "Any news yet of Tony Blair taking the initiative during the UK's presidency of the EU to promote a coalition of the willing to bring about a regime change?" Your cynicism Bob doesn't surprise me, although Prodi - who is a third way person - will probably be back after the election. He will probably be the 'scrificial lamb', holding the fort while "the boys from wherever it is" do what I am now convinced they have decided to do: default. In this Prodi is set to become Italy's De La Rua (Argentina) exhorting his fellow citizens to make all kinds of sacrifices to try and stop the inevitable snap in the elastic. What surprises me is the lack of interest this topic seems to generate. Everyone seems to be willing to go in for all kinds of wild speculation about a possible dollar collapse on the back of Chinsese trade (which, IMHO, is highly improbable), but people don't seem to see the danger under their noses. If there is major financial termoil, it will start in Italy. It is by far the wekest economy of the big problem three (Japan, Germany, Italy), yet, via the impact on eurozone financial markets any big crisis in Italy will rapidly travel the globe. “Any news yet of Tony Blair taking the initiative during the UK’s presidency of the EU to promote a coalition of the willing to bring about a regime change?”

Your cynicism Bob doesn’t surprise me, although Prodi - who is a third way person - will probably be back after the election.

He will probably be the ’scrificial lamb’, holding the fort while “the boys from wherever it is” do what I am now convinced they have decided to do: default.

In this Prodi is set to become Italy’s De La Rua (Argentina) exhorting his fellow citizens to make all kinds of sacrifices to try and stop the inevitable snap in the elastic.

What surprises me is the lack of interest this topic seems to generate. Everyone seems to be willing to go in for all kinds of wild speculation about a possible dollar collapse on the back of Chinsese trade (which, IMHO, is highly improbable), but people don’t seem to see the danger under their noses. If there is major financial termoil, it will start in Italy. It is by far the wekest economy of the big problem three (Japan, Germany, Italy), yet, via the impact on eurozone financial markets any big crisis in Italy will rapidly travel the globe.

]]> By: Bob B http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/governments-and-parties/the-end-of-the-dolce-vita/#comment-11994 Bob B Fri, 02 Dec 2005 03:30:50 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2134#comment-11994 Isn't this the opportune moment for action, all according to the model prescriptions of the Third Way? Any news yet of Tony Blair taking the initiative during the UK's presidency of the EU to promote a coalition of the willing to bring about a regime change? Isn’t this the opportune moment for action, all according to the model prescriptions of the Third Way?

Any news yet of Tony Blair taking the initiative during the UK’s presidency of the EU to promote a coalition of the willing to bring about a regime change?

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