North-South Dualism and the European Union. Where is the Italy System Headed?

This article deal with the dualistic nature of the Italy System and its evolution from the 1950s to the present day, arguing that it went through a prolonged stage as essential leverage for the economy as a whole to achieve rapid development, and that as from the mid-1970s it progressively became a critical aspect, holding back the economy, seen as the cause of an unprecedented “northern problem” and general economic decline. The latter thesis is based on a dangerous financial illusion now leading to the launch of a reform going under the misnomer of “fiscal federalism”. Critical illustration is provided of the problems and prospects that this confused institutional evolution conjures up on the horizon.