Productivity Growth in Italy: A tale of a slow-motion change

In association with the NYU Department of Economics and the New York Delegation of the Banca d’Italia. A presentation by Matteo Bugamelli, Banca d’Italia. Introduced by Alberto Bisin, NYU.

Productivity is the main factor holding back Italy’s long-term economic growth. Since the second half of the 1990s, productivity growth has been feeble both by historical standards and compared with the other main Eurozone countries. Understanding the reasons for such a dismal performance and finding the most effective policy levers is crucial to raise Italy’s potential growth rate.

The presentation will start with a detailed analysis of the data and a critical review of the available empirical evidence on the Italian economy’s productive weaknesses and strengths; it will then move to the discussion of the structural reforms recently implemented. It will conclude with a discussion on the policy priorities for the near future.

In ENGLISH.

RSVP here.