We are now living in a period of disillusion in the ability of economic policy to stabilise the economy. This is proven by the onset of severe world recession in the early 1980s and the inability to invert the negative phase of the business cycle under way in the industrialized countries in the early 1990s. The failure of old policies motivates the research into the causes of economic fluctuations and their measurement whose results are published in this volume

In the post-war period, spending on social security, health and education has grown continuously in the leading industrialized countries. The considerable size of this spending as a percentage of GDP together with the ageing population raise doubts on the sustainability of welfare spending. These doubts have been accompanied in recent years by an increasing awareness of the allocational inefficiencies and the distributive inequalities caused by the provision of some social services. The welfare state should therefore be reconstructed not only through readjustment of the social security system...

In the last twenty years, Italy has undergone significant changes in the functioning of the labour market and industrial relations. This makes it an excellent case study for evaluating labour market practices and possibilities for reform. Studies in Labour Markets and Industrial Relations brings together leading Italian and European scholars to trace the evolution of labour bargaining and industrial relations from both a theoretical and empirical perspective.

Antitrust, Regulation and Competition brings together a group of well-known European and American academics to examine antitrust policies and competitive behaviour on a wide variety of topical cases and critical markets. Taking both a theoretical and applied perspective, the contributors examine issues such as entry and market concentration, auctions, technological innovation, privatization and the role of public firms, market transparency, the supply of product quality and multinational firms.

Mario Baldassarri and Francesco Busato evaluate the impact produced by a new cycle of structural reforms over European Union economies. The structural reforms concern the size and the composition of government expenditure, the good and services markets, and the labour market. The book illustrates how the key challenge for European countries is not to discuss how policies could be implemented (e.g. fiscal policy competition Vs fiscal policy coordination), but to implement them.

The rise of China and India has completely changed the world economy, moving it towards disequilibrium. Several alternative economic policies are tested to seek a way towards high growth in any continent associated with long-run real and financial equilibrium. The authors argue for a new exchange rate system and a new world governance.

This study addresses the two major challenges facing the global economy: globalization and the European structural crisis. In addition, it takes a closer look at the impact of this on the Italian economy. The findings reflect on the issue of long term growth and suggest ways in which to create sustainable financial conditions for the future.

Opens a methodological perspective in political economy by posing the question of why economic institutions are created.

The book has three main objectives. Firstly, to provide an up-dated analysis of the most important theoretical developments, secondly, to present significant empirical verifications and thirdly, to assess the micro-macro debate and the relations which link the market structure to the function of the economic system.

Since the early 1970s the Italian economy has been moving towards an irreversible real and financial crisis. Paradoxically, the conditions engendered by the currency crisis and recession may also provide the basis for a new economic policy strategy, which could lead to built a mere 'economic miracle '