In Italy, the corruption is a social phenomenon affecting the health sector. In this paper we show that the impact of corruption on Italian health expenditure is positive, along with ageing population, technological change and supply factors inducing demand in pharmaceuticals and...

This paper deals with the contribution of Sergio Steve to the development of an accountable structure of local public finance, with particular attention to the positive application of the benefit theory of taxation.

An appropriate structure of tobacco taxation should balance only apparently contrasting health, industrial and fiscal aims. In this paper, it will be discussed the main critical issues of the present system of tobacco taxation in Italy and some hypotheses of reform. In particular, it will be...

The use of a contingent valuation (CV) method is controversial among economists because it is based on hypothetical rather than real economic choices. This paper reports the results of an experiment designed to elicit the real and the hypothetical willingness to pay (WTP) for a private good. The...

This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation into people's evaluations of choice problems that are strategically equivalent, but differ in respect of their temporal framings. We elicit individual valuations for three strategically equivalent choice problems, which differ in...

This paper addresses the historical evolution of benefit-based taxation, with particular reference to the contribution of the Italian school of public finance. In particular, it is shown that the positive interpretation of the benefit theory as a criterion of rationality and judgment is well...

In this paper we examine the relationship between air pollution and hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Italy, at province level, over the period 2004- 2009. To this end, we use information on annual mean concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,...

Recent research suggests that some countries may be unable to use productively their schooling output because of the scope of cronyism or corruption. We investigate further and demonstrate that, in a stylised model, cronyism in the labour market, (e.g. the ability to exert influence to gain high...

This study examines the development of rural tourism in Italy, highlighting the wide range of activities undertaken on rural tourism farms. Currently, rural tourism is presented as an enterprise parallel to traditional farming activities that generates additional income and fosters greater...

In the face of past ambiguous results on growth effects of education when measured through school attainment, some papers suggest that some countries may be unable to use productively their schooling output because of the scope of cronyism. We dig deeper and demonstrate that, in a stylized...