Italy must restart from growth. This is the axiom from which all Mario Monti's reflections seem to arise. Today the President of Bocconi will be appointed to lead a new government. And the list of things to do is already full: from liberalizations to new interventions on pensions, taxation, work and political costs.
"The work is enormous", confirmed Monti from Berlin on Thursday, underlining that the way to restart the GDP passes through "the removal of all privileges". That is to say: we need to dismantle the granite system of various guilds and castes that has been hindering the reforms Italy needs for years.
An impossible mission for normal parliaments in which the majority and the opposition are opposed. The reasons – it is clear – are of an electoral nature. But an emergency executive backed by both sides can do it.
So let's see what the agenda of the Monti government should be:
1. LIBERALIZATIONS
From local public services to professions, passing through industries such as energy and telecommunications: the list of markets to be liberalized is long. Naturally this is the first step to take to unhinge the excessive power of "privileges". And the former European Commissioner is the right man to do it. The main difficulties on this front should be of a political nature: if the Pd and Udc should ensure their support without too much hesitation, the resistance in the Pdl could be much more fierce. Just think of the various failed attempts with the four summer manoeuvres.
2. AWAY FROM LONG LIFE PENSIONS
Europe has been asking us for some time to cancel the institution of early retirement. But so far the resistance of the League has prevented any intervention on the seniority allowances. A problem that a possible Monti government shouldn't pose, considering that the Carroccio has already officially announced its intention to place itself in the opposition. Pro-rata for all and accelerating the alignment of the old-age age to 65 for men and women in the private sector are also not excluded. Naturally there will be resistance from the trade unions but Europe is not waiting.
3. TAX: PRESSURE ON CONSUMPTION AND ASSETS
More than once Monti - in line with Mario Draghi - has underlined the need to shift the bulk of the tax burden from work and businesses to consumption and assets. Redistributing loads is the only way, considering that "cutting taxes would be a desirable, but not credible solution", as the Professor explained again. The reinstatement of the ICI or the introduction of a light but stable capital base could be one of the decisions of the very first hours of the new government. As for politics, a bipartisan convergence cannot be ruled out on this front.
4. WORK: YES TO THE ICHINO PROPOSAL
Another pressing request from Europe: to make the labor market more flexible. To achieve the goal, the new executive could make the reform proposed by Pietro Ichino a reality. “There is a need for a dislocation – Monti underlined -, to favor young people, those who are outside the labor market”. Among the various innovations, there are also measures that could override the current constraints on layoffs set by article 18 of the Workers' Statute. On this point, the differences with the Democratic Party could not be more clear-cut.
5. COSTS OF THE POLICY
Par excellence, the cuts with which every political force fills its mouth out of demagoguery, only to then dribble their approval in the Chamber so as not to have to give up any privileges. "Little is being done - writes the Bocconi President - to reduce the burden on the economy and society of the exorbitant costs of the political system, which is not very productive in terms of timely decisions".
