This paper uses microdata in order to investigate the productivity slowdown observed in Italy since the early 1990s. The key question is aimed at understanding whether this productivity slowdown, which occurred in the Italian economy, can be ascribed to the dynamics in specific sectors. After...

The aim of this paper is to provide a contribution to the debate on the effectiveness of cohesion policies in Italy. It focuses on the effects of EU spending on the convergence process across Italian regions from 1996 to 2007. The empirical analysis is based on a neoclassical growth model which...

This paper provides a contribution to the debate on the role of EU cohesion policy in Italy. The focus is on the territorial effects of EU spending from 1996 to 2007. The empirical analysis considers a neoclassical growth model which is augmented by the structural funds spent by each region....

This paper estimates the impact of R&D expenditure on productivity at firm level. We use a balanced panel of 385 Italian manufacturing firms in order to provide evidence of the elasticity of capital R&D over the period 1992-1997. We consider an extended production function that includes the...

Italy has experienced a restructuring and consolidation process in the banking industry since the 1990s’ that is expected to foster efficiency and competition. Despite the reforms, a peculiarity of the industry is the persistence of small mutual-cooperative banks (BCCs) active in narrowed...

The aim of this paper is to provide a contribution to the debate on the effectiveness of cohesion policies in Italy. It focuses on the effects of EU spending on the convergence process across Italian regions from 1996 to 2007. The empirical analysis is based on a neoclassical growth model which...

Using a translog production function we estimate the impact of R&D spillovers on the output performance of Italian manufacturing firms over the period 1998-2003. Technological flows are measured through an asymmetric similarity index that takes also into account the geographical proximity of...

This article investigates the sources and determinants of output growth of Italian manufacturing firms. Applying stochastic frontier techniques, we decompose output growth into factor accumulation and TFP growth for the period 1998–2003. TFP growth is further decomposed into technological...

This article presents new evidence on the impact of Nonreciprocal Preferential Trade Policies (NRPTPs) granted by developed countries to exports from developing countries over the period 1995 to 2003. The analysis has been carried out by using three levels of data aggregation. It accounts for...

The authors model the channels through which public expenditure on infrastructure influences firm value and shapes its investment decisions via both adjustment costs and marginal profitability of capital. The authors test these hypotheses using a large panel of Italian firms. Empirical results...