"Gramsci Contested is a map with which one can orient oneself in the many readings, debates and controversies that surround Gramsci's work. From the judgements of his contemporaries to the peak of his fame and the apparent decline of his star in the 1990s, we are guided through the entire...

This book investigates the perceptions of political actors towards the creation of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in Europe. The research is largely based on personal interviews conducted with key informants in central banks, finance ministries, employers' organizations and trade unions in...

This book looks at the banking and finance industries in Italy and how these industries contribute to the Italian economy. Could these industries be the solution to the contradiction in which the country's economy has been caught for several years: it is better governed than it has been in the...

A survey of past financial crises, starting with the great banking collapses of the interwar period. The current turmoil has prompted a number of questions regarding both its origins and ways to avoid its repetition. The historical background and the evolving institutional framework of banking...

The past decade has been a time of drastic developments, both in financial markets and in related academic research. Among the most striking developments are the expanded stockholder base, the increased popularity of mutual funds among households, and the growing importance of private pension...

This book offers a new interpretative key, which we call 'a stage and eclectic approach', to the development of clusters. This approach supports public efforts to increase the effectiveness of policy-making and development operations in local contexts

Why was the Italian Banking System more resilient during the sub-prime crisis and harder-hit in the sovereign crisis? Will their strength in the retail market result as an asset or a liability for Italian banks in the future? This book offers an in-depth analysis of one of the most important EU...