[emanuele232]

I agree with 3/4 of this comment, but the only region run by germans is Trentino, there are a couple regions that run on their own (Lombardia, Veneto and Piemonte). Said that, the more south you go the worse things get, and if you pass Rome the situation is tragic

[skippyboxedhero]

Correct, and with South Tyrol that region has a disproportionate share of Italy's manufacturing industry (I suppose it is Austrian, not really German).

Again though, what is the perspective...Turin is a famous manufacturing city but is still in decline, and is fairly grim overall...and that is supposed to be the part that works for citizens (same is true of Milan, which is a services hub so even more insulated from the decline that hit Turin...still grim, still in decline).

Btw, I think out of any place in Europe, Italy has the most economic potential. They have the financial markets, they have the universities, they have the people...but it is unfortunate that the only context in which they are presented as economically successful is within an agenda that attempts to further the status quo that has served them so poorly. If Italy stops believing in ordo-liberalism, they can grow.