IMF Staff Country Reports

Italy: Selected Issues

Publication Date:

November 13, 2003

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

The Selected Issues paper is focused on policies to secure strong growth and safeguard fiscal sustainability. The paper analyzes the reasons behind Italy's persistent inflation differential vis-a-vis the euro area. It reviews Italy's large regional imbalances through a catch-up in income levels and estimates a growth model using panel data for Italian regions to determine the impact of a number of factors in addition to convergence forces. It also focuses on fiscal sustainability and reviews the case for additional pension reform steps in Italy.

Series:

Country Report No. 2003/352

Subject:

Aging Expenditure Inflation Labor Pension spending Pensions Population and demographics Prices Retirement