Productivity spillovers and regional differences: some evidence on the italian manufacturing sector

This work examines the main theoretical and empirical interpretations regarding the effects of foreign direct investment on productivity of local firms and, in particular, in which way productivity spillovers are related to the existence of regional differences. By taking into consideration the Italian manufacturing sector and using cross-section data, we find that although at a national level productivity levels are higher in the domestic sectors where multinational firms account for larger shares, productivity spillovers are concentrated only in the north-western area of Italy.foreign direct investment; productivity spillovers

Banking System Efficiency and the Dualistic Development of the Italian Economy in the Nineties

The article provides an analysis of some features of the Italian Credit System in the Nineties. In particular, it focuses on a comparison of Banks efficiency – in terms of costs, revenues and profits – in Northern and Southern Italy taking into account the dualistic structure, which characterizes the Italian economic system.

Exporting quality: is it the right strategy for the Italian manufacturing sector?

ABSTRACT: Recently, most European manufacturing firms have been engaged in a number of innovative activities to survive the growing competition coming from newly-industrialising countries. Italian manufacturing industry, which relies largely on SMEs, is struggling to regain competitiveness in global markets. In light of these stylised facts, we first investigate whether innovating activities and quality goods’ production enhance Italian SMEs’ probability to be exporter. Our findings suggest that both products’ quality and innovative activities affect considerably SMEs’ likelihood to export. Subsequently, using the Chow test, we find evidence for a structural break produced by quality, which results in substantial differences between high and low-quality firms. The former are more likely to export if they introduce product innovation, marketing innovation and/or organisational changes, the latter increase their chances of exporting when introducing process innovations and organisational changes.SMEs, exports, innovative activities, quality, probit

Effects of Credit Risk and Banking Supervision on The Access to Credit in a Dualistic Economy: The Case of Southern Italy

In this article the authors discuss the effects of changes in bank regulation on the behavior of banks as regards their willingness to finance companies in Italy and in Southern Italy in particular. They at first examine the evolution of the Supervisory banking model and its impact on a dualistic economy like Southern Italy; then provide a statistical evidence of the access to credit in Italy according to different areas and regions and different bank size; finally, they conclude with some policy implications about the reshaping a virtuous relationship between banks and firms in Southern Italy

LA GIUSTIZIA TRIBUTARIA TRA SPECIALITÀ ED ORDINARIETÀ

Il contenzioso tributario negli ultimi anni è stato in costante crescita ,sia dal punto di vista del valore economico, che del numero dei procedimenti; d'altronde la rilevante percentuale di ricorsi per Cassazione evidenzia con chiarezza come tale tipo di contenzioso , che nella sua specificità non è soggetto ad alcun limite di competenza, abbia ormai un suo ruolo autonomo da tutti riconosciuto. Alla vigilia dell’annunciata riforma della Giustizia Tributaria può pertanto essere opportuna una valutazione della problematica nell'ambito di una analisi sia economica, per ciò che attiene ai problemi di efficienza e di produttività del sistema (al fine di evitare o almeno di limitare i cd "fallimenti di mercato"), sia giuridica , in considerazione degli aspetti procedurali propri del sistema stesso; inoltre una comparazione con l'esperienza di altri Paesi che hanno giurisdizioni vicine alla nostra può facilitare la individuazione di best practices da utilizzare. In tale ottica complessiva si cercherà di evidenziare quali modifiche e nuovi meccanismi procedurali possono concorrere a migliorare la qualità del sistema, con particolare attenzione alla fase che precede il giudizio, la quale a nostro avviso riveste una rilevanza significativa

Exporting quality: is it the right strategy for the Italian manufacturing sector?

ABSTRACT: Recently, most European manufacturing firms have been engaged in a number of innovative activities to survive the growing competition coming from newly-industrialising countries. Italian manufacturing industry, which relies largely on SMEs, is struggling to regain competitiveness in global markets. In light of these stylised facts, we first investigate whether innovating activities and quality goods’ production enhance Italian SMEs’ probability to be exporter. Our findings suggest that both products’ quality and innovative activities affect considerably SMEs’ likelihood to export. Subsequently, using the Chow test, we find evidence for a structural break produced by quality, which results in substantial differences between high and low-quality firms. The former are more likely to export if they introduce product innovation, marketing innovation and/or organisational changes, the latter increase their chances of exporting when introducing process innovations and organisational changes

Exporting quality: is it the right strategy for the Italian manufacturing sector?

ABSTRACT: Recently, most European manufacturing firms have been engaged in a number of innovative activities to survive the growing competition coming from newly-industrialising countries. Italian manufacturing industry, which relies largely on SMEs, is struggling to regain competitiveness in global markets. In light of these stylised facts, we first investigate whether innovating activities and quality goods’ production enhance Italian SMEs’ probability to be exporter. Our findings suggest that both products’ quality and innovative activities affect considerably SMEs’ likelihood to export. Subsequently, using the Chow test, we find evidence for a structural break produced by quality, which results in substantial differences between high and low-quality firms. The former are more likely to export if they introduce product innovation, marketing innovation and/or organisational changes, the latter increase their chances of exporting when introducing process innovations and organisational changes

Measurement of 1323 and 1487 keV resonances in 15N({\alpha}, {\gamma})19F with the recoil separator ERNA

The origin of fluorine is a widely debated issue. Nevertheless, the ^{15}N({\alpha},{\gamma})^{19}F reaction is a common feature among the various production channels so far proposed. Its reaction rate at relevant temperatures is determined by a number of narrow resonances together with the DC component and the tails of the two broad resonances at E_{c.m.} = 1323 and 1487 keV. Measurement through the direct detection of the 19F recoil ions with the European Recoil separator for Nuclear Astrophysics (ERNA) were performed. The reaction was initiated by a 15N beam impinging onto a 4He windowless gas target. The observed yield of the resonances at Ec.m. = 1323 and 1487 keV is used to determine their widths in the {\alpha} and {\gamma} channels. We show that a direct measurement of the cross section of the ^{15}N({\alpha},{\gamma})^{19}F reaction can be successfully obtained with the Recoil Separator ERNA, and the widths {\Gamma}_{\gamma} and {\Gamma}_{\alpha} of the two broad resonances have been determined. While a fair agreement is found with earlier determination of the widths of the 1487 keV resonance, a significant difference is found for the 1323 keV resonance {\Gamma}_{\alpha} . The revision of the widths of the two more relevant broad resonances in the 15N({\alpha},{\gamma})19F reaction presented in this work is the first step toward a more firm determination of the reaction rate. At present, the residual uncertainty at the temperatures of the ^{19}F stellar nucleosynthesis is dominated by the uncertainties affecting the Direct Capture component and the 364 keV narrow resonance, both so far investigated only through indirect experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in PR