Vita e Pensiero
La determinazione dei salari in Italia: rigidità reali e nominali prima e dopo gli accordi di politica dei redditi
digital

Year:
2005
This paper estimates the extent of downward wage rigidity in Italy using a micro-econometric model and the recently released WHIP longitudinal data. The econometric approach distinguishes between downward nominal wage rigidity – i.e., the impediment to nominal wage cuts – and downward real wage rigidity – i.e., when nominal wages cannot grow by less than a minimum positive threshold. The model accounts for measurement error and flexibly specifies the counterfactual, rigidity-free wage change distribution. The period analyzed goes from the mid eighties to the end of the century, within which the 1992-1993 income agreements – with the abolition of the scala mobile – are situated. Overall, downward wage rigidity impacts on about 70% of the observations. However, in the periods following the income agreements, the impact of wage rigidity is reduced, in particular with regards to real rigidities (with a slight increase in nominal rigidities). In each sub-period, however, real rigidities prevail over nominal rigidities.
€ 6.00
Protocollo di Luglio e crescita economica: l’occasione perduta
digital

Year:
2005
The paper aims at explaining the ineffectiveness of the tripartite social pact of July 1993 (the so-called July Protocol) in fostering growth, further to curbing inflation and favouring employment. In the light of labour productivity dynamics, wage moderation after 1993 appears as a significant wage deflation. In an economy with relevant segments sheltered from international competitiveness, privatisations and wage deflation have combined in favouring rent accumulation; so that, unexpectedly, wage moderation has combined with a sensible competitive loss and with slow growth. Changes in the fundamental relationships among growth, profits, investment and employment show deterioration in the quality of new jobs and an employment-productivity tradeoff, which are discussed with refer- ence to innovation, workplace re-organisation and relational goods accumulation. Within the industrial relations system, major shortcomings can be traced to the poor engagement of social partners in preserving the credibility of the Pact. The concluding recommendations aim at resolving the incompleteness of the Protocol, and helping the Italian economy to enter the «high road» to competitiveness.
€ 6.00
Countrymetrics: valutazione della performance economica e tecnologia dei paesi e posizionamento dell’Italia
digital

Year:
2005
International markets crises following recent events such as terrorist attacks, wars in the East,
growing financial globalisation and integration raised an interest in the analysis of country risk
among industrialised countries as well as developing nations. This paper develops new measures of
economic and technological performances of countries by means of a systemic approach based on
combinations of several indices. A comparative analysis using data from 51 countries for the period
2000-2002 identifies the countries with high/low performances. The results are substantially
stronger and quicker than those obtained by conventional indicators. Moreover, results show Italy’s
low economic and technological performances with respect to other developed countries.
€ 6.00
Learning to Coordinate whit Heterogeneous Belief-Formation
digital

Year:
2005
Experiments show that players with identical information and objectives have heterogeneous
behavior rules. We formulate how different beliefs arise from the same information and analyze how
heterogeneous belief formation affects learning outcomes of two-person two-action coordination
games. With heterogeneous belief formation, it is possible to generate enough diversity in actions for
eventual coordination, which is impossible under the ordinary adaptive learning model. When each
player uses the same function to compute a belief over time, diversity of belief formation functions
within or across populations is suffcient for convergence to coordination. When players choose
belief-formation functions as well as actions over time, diverse adjustment of belief-formation functions
is suffcient. A risk-dominant equilibrium is more likely to emerge than a payoff-dominant equilibrium
since the former is more likely to be predicted by the players.
€ 6.00
Are Human Rights Becoming Burdensome for Our Economies? The Role of Slavery-Like Practices in the Development of World Economics and in the Context of Modern Society
digital

Year:
2005
The article analyzes some recent episodes concerning slavery-like practices and human trafficking
reports. The problem seems particularly crucial in the industrialized world where the flow of illegal
migrants is directed. After a summary of the international covenants concerning slavery and its
unethical aspects, a sociological explanation of the phenomenon will be proposed. Besides the obvious
economical benefits of disposing of low-wage workers in a highly competitive environment,
we will try to understand the «social functions» of slavery today. The structure of modern society is
the result of a long historical evolution. Yet, modern society is also full of contradictions. Social stability
and cohesion are based upon a hierarchical organization in which some individuals or groups
occupy the lowest levels of the social ladder. Today, this position is covered by the «new slaves». In
this perspective, slavery appears to be both «necessary» and «compulsory» in enhancing social unity
and identity.
€ 6.00
L’accordo di Luglio del 1993 alla prova dei fatti. Un’introduzione
digital

Year:
2005
This introduction provides a survey of the collected papers. At the same time it develops an critical
analysis designed to illustrate the file rouge which links the material included in this special issue.
€ 6.00
Competitività e divari di efficienza nell’industria italiana
digital

Year:
2005
This paper assesses the role of competition in explaining efficiency in the Italian manufacturing
industries. Technical efficiency differentials are measured by applying the Data Envelopment Analysis
(DEA) method on a panel of firms from 43 industries at 3- digit level, over the 1983-1991
period. The average level of efficiency of each industry is then related through econometric techniques
to some factors reflecting the degree of competition. Economic literature states that a tougher
competitive environment is efficiency enhancing and we find a negative link between efficiency and
concentration. Moreover, efficiency declines more slowly when the level of concentration is higher,
whereby suggesting a non-linear relationship. These results have policy implications. The processes
of liberalisation and privatisation in Italy should take into account the benefical effects of a more
competitive environment.
€ 6.00
Investire per un turismo di élite o di massa: un modello dinamico
digital

Year:
2005
In this paper we investigate the convenience for a destination to specialize in mass-tourism or in
élite-tourism. We take a micro-economic dynamic perspective, and propose a theoretical model, able
to explain the switch in this kind of specialization, which is easily observed in several cases. We also
study the case in which it is possible for a destination to select a combination between mass – and élite
– tourism and we characterize the optimal degree of composition between these two extreme cases.
€ 6.00
The Impact of International Economic Sanctions on Trade Empirical Evidence over the Period 1960-2000
digital

Year:
2005
International economic sanctions are a recurring feature of political interactions. This paper provides,
through a gravity model approach, an estimation of the impact of sanctions on international
trade. The study reports panel estimates between the US and 49 target countries over the period 1960-
2000, inclusive. The results show that extensive sanctions have a large negative impact on bilateral
trade, while this is not the case for limited and moderate sanctions. A second estimation focuses on
the impact of unilateral US sanctions on bilateral trade between target countries and the other G-7
countries. The results show that unilateral extensive sanctions have also a large negative impact,
while limited ones induce a slight positive effect on other G-7 countries trade. In the first case the hypothesis
of negative ‘network effects’ is confirmed, while in the latter the sanctions-busting argument
should be defended.
€ 6.00
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