The Political Economy of Italy's Decline

Italy is a country of recent decline and long-standing idiosyncratic traits. A rich society served by an advanced manufacturing economy , where the rule of law is weak and political accountability low, it has long been in downward spiral alimented by corruption and clientelism. From this spiral has emerged an equilibrium as consistent as it is inefficient, that raises serious obstacles to economic and democratic development. The Political Economy of Italy's Decline explains the causes of Italy's downward trajectory, and explains how the country can shift to a fairer and more efficient system.

Andrea Lorenzo Capussela received a PhD in international law with a thesis concerning competition policy. After some years in the private sector, he served as the head of the economics unit of Kosovo's international supervisor, the International Civilian Office, in 2008-11, and then as the adviser to Moldova's minister of economy and deputy prime minister, on behalf of the EU. He is the author of State-Building in Kosovo: Democracy, EU Interests and US Influence in the Balkans.