ITALIAN MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES AND THE FOURTH CAPITALISM

The work addresses the issue of Italian medium-sized enterprises of the fourth capitalism. The question is whether this business model is going to last and actually represent a new model for global competition. This contribution examines the features of the model of the medium industrial enterprise. It also investigates the performance of the Italian medium-sized enterprises, comparing with large companies. The analysis of the data, albeit at a descriptive level using data published by Mediobanca-Unioncamere, allows taking some significant features of these enterprises. The analysis of the business model of medium Italian enterprises highlights the low use of capital, the local roots, the importance of product innovation, the differentiation of products, the customer service, flexibility, specialization of production and internationalization. An important aspect stressed in the work is that the processes of innovation and internationalization that underlie the strategies of medium-sized companies require a strong collaboration with the institutions. Therefore, medium-sized enterprises need institutions, especially institutions that work. Lastly, medium Italian enterprises suffer from high taxation compared to their competitors.