untitled design (1)

Learn Italian online

Search

Is It Really 100% Made in Italy? Ferraris Are Not.

Heading in a better direction?

From time to time, the thorny Made in Italy question flares up in Italy. The topic has once more occupied Italian hearts and minds owing to a New York Times graphic which claimed that extra virgin Italy was not so much made as adulterated in Italy. The truth is, while just about anything and everything […]

Italy Exits the Recession and Stands Still

There are alarming signs that while Italy is finally leaving its recession behind, its economy is about to enter a period of stagnation. Italy’s businesses are reluctant to invest – ask Italy’s banks how many are taking out loans. The same businesses are not taking on new people either. Italians are voting with their feet […]

Italy, the State of Play

Heading in a better direction?

Is the economy of Italy heading in the right direction? Everyone is asking this question. A better question might be: Is Italy heading in any direction? The European Union would like to know which way, if any, Italy is going and is becoming increasingly alarmed that Italy is about to drop itself in the mire and […]

Ice Cream Sales Melt Away in Italy

Reports that all’s not at all well in Italy are cropping up all the time. Wine consumption in Italy has fallen to its lowest level since the 19th century. Ice cream sales have dropped by nearly 50%. For each two hours that have passed since the start of 2013, three businesses in Italy have gone […]

Why Am I Depressed?

Heading in a better direction?

I am increasingly asking myself the question: Why am I depressed? Apart from Portugal, everything seems quiet on the Eurozone front. I ask myself: Why? What has changed since the last major crisis? Italy has a new government but Letti is hardly the reformer that Monti sought to be. Eurozone unemployment is above 12% and […]

Why Mario Monti May Damage Italy’s Mental Health

Yes, it may seem an odd claim to make, but if you read the book Progress or Collapse by Italian academic Roberto de Vogli, you will quickly understand why the assertion that Mario Monti may damage Italy’s mental health is possible. Now, this is where things may become rather complicated unless you are an economist or someone […]

Will Italy Sink Back into the Mire After the February Elections?

Heading in a better direction?

Silvio Berlusconi was a consequence of Italy’s ineffectual left whose leaders could not hold a government together for more than a few months. Mario Monti was a consequence of Silvio Berlusconi who held his government together, just about, but did nothing positive for Italy’s economic state. Now Mario Monti’s period at Italy’s helm is over, even if he may […]

Is Mario Monti Good For Italy? Not really.

While this site suffers from a bout of technological hiccups, I suggest you go off to read a fascinating article on why Mario Monti and his technocrats failed and why the approach of another, less distinguished but more expert economist Ecuador’s Rafael Correa would probably have sorted out Italy’s ills and keep austerity at bay. […]

Berlusconi Makes an Unwelcome Comeback Which Terrifies One and All

Heading in a better direction?

While down, Silvio Berlusconi was never really out.  Although Italy’s ex-prime minister gave retirement some consideration, at the end of the day, he realized that the only real option for him was to bounce back onto Italy’s political scene and this he has done in spectacular fashion. Berlusconi’s comeback has not been welcomed.  Italy’s financial markets have […]