Having safe, fast and efficient payment systems has always been an essential requirement for the functioning and development of the economy. In the current context of strong technological evolution (also due to the internet), progressive dematerialisation and interconnection of production and financial dynamics on a global scale, payments made with instruments other than cash, such as credit and debit cards, computers and devices mobile devices (mobile phones, tablets, etc.), are assuming an ever more central role, also in the strategic agenda of states and supranational institutions.
Accelerating the transition towards socio-economic systems no longer mainly based on the use of paper money - the so-called "cashless society" - is an obligatory step for advanced countries to keep up with the new demand for services expressed by citizens and businesses, to the emerging opportunities linked to digitization and to seize systemic benefits such as greater transaction security, the emergence of undeclared work and greater transparency. This Letter deals with electronic payment systems and their importance as a competitiveness tool for Italy and Europe.
