LUIGI BERNARDI

Rileggendo Cipolla: nuovo declino e finanza pubblica

209

Maggio-Agosto 2005

Anno LXX    n. 2

Summary – The present decline of the Italian manufacturing is not unprecedented throughout the history of the Italian economy. Among the events of former times, one of the most serious cases occurred in the seventeenth century and has been admirably depicted by C.M. Cipolla. One may notice how these adverse historical events do show some alarming similarities with what is happening in the present times. The current situation is from then on discussed at some length in the remainder of the paper, especially as to its causes and effects concerning the status of the public finance. Finally it is point out that the ways commonly suggested to put Italy out from present decline are not easy nor short. As a consequence, a wide set of well behaved public policies are called for to try to improve the welfare of the people, even in a no-and/or slowly growing economy..