The Italian economy has often puzzled foreign observers over the past fifteen years. In this article we attempt to interpret these developments. In our interpretation, some implications of which are perhaps of more than local interest, we stress the role of policies throughout the period.

In the past three years, the countries that belong to the Exchange Rate Mechanism of the European Monetary System (EMS) have experienced a very rapid process of financial integration.

The process that so many people are envisaging for EU capital markets may be summarised approximately as follows: The single currency will eliminate currency risk. This will encourage a diversification by investors based upon other risk considerations. This will lead to a tremendous growth in...