Pavia, Collegio Ghislieri

6-7 ottobre 2000

 FISCAL POLICIES, MARKETS REGULATION AND GROWTH 

 Economic growth problems are at the heart of the current debate  in most European countries. While the US economy keeps growing at a pace which has no comparison since the aftermath of the second world war, European economies are struggling behind. Italy, in particular, is in clear difficulties, unable to keep the pace even with the moderate growth of the remaining European countries. Long term perspectives are also worrying, given the quickly ageing population in both continental Europe and Italy in particular. Scholars are divided in the analysis of the phenomenon. Some writers simply interpret the growth crisis  as a "demand crisis" , induced first by the need of meeting the Maastricht criteria and then strengthened by the "stability pact" fiscal constraints. Others underline the elements of a "supply crisis", induced by labour market rigidities and lack of competition on the output markets. However, the debate is often superficial; there is a clear need of more serious theoretical and empirical researches. The traditional "box of tools" of the public economist, developed under completely different economic conditions, also appears out of date and unable to cope with the current problems. An open discussion on how fiscal policies, and more in general the whole public sector, must be re-organised so as to stimulate growth seems to be both urgent and essential. 

The 2000 Siep Conference is dedicated to these issues. The Conference will have both plenary and working sessions. Plenary session will be held in English. Working sessions will be held in Italian or in English according to the nationality of the speakers.

The opening lectures on Friday will be given by Giuseppe BERTOLA, European University Institute, Firenze; Roberto PEROTTI, Columbia University; and Hans Werner  SINN, University of Munich. A round table chaired by Fabrizio GALIMBERTI on the specific problems of South Italy will close the Conference on Saturday. Domenico da EMPOLI, University of Roma, Domenicantonio FAUSTO,  University of Napoli, Francesco FORTE, University of Roma, Nicola ROSSI, University of Roma and Ministry of Treasure, and Roberto PEROTTI, Columbia University, will participate to the round table.

We invite all scholars to submit empirical or theoretical works addressing these problems. Applications, including the paper or the abstract of the paper to be presented, should be sent by the 31st of July 2000 to one of the members of the organising committee:

Massimo Bordignon, Università Cattolica di Milano, e-mail: mbordig@mi.unicatt.it; e/o

Domenico da Empoli, Università La Sapienza, Roma, e-mail: ddaempoli@hotmail.com ; e/o

Emilio Gerelli, Università di Pavia, e-mail: gerelli@unipv.it.

 Decisions regarding the  applications will be taken by mid of August. Authors whose papers have been accepted for the Conference are expected to send a complete version of their work by the 20th of September at last.