The interpretation somewhat summarizes the cliché of certain Anglo-Saxon press, often - and not always rightly so - hostile towards the boot. “Italy is like a third world country”, decisively headlines the online version of the US magazine Newsweek, to then begin the article with the most classic of: "Italy may be rich in cultural heritage and still boasts the seventh largest economy in the world, but social statistics are more in line with those of emerging Third World development". As if to underline the eternal cliché (or maybe not?) of artistic beauty as opposed to the economic situation.
Then the author of the piece goes on to analyze the statistics, taking a cue from some Istat data published just today, which actually don't provide such a reassuring picture. The first target is inevitably the youth unemployment, which reached record levels in 2012: over one million under-24s are unemployed, i.e. 37% of workers in that age group. Furthermore, as is now known (even if Newsweek is surprised or pretends to be surprised), it is easier for young people with university degrees to remain unemployed, because they are less willing to work without a contract and in unskilled sectors.
Subsequently, a female author could only emphasize the women's question, in which Italy actually lags behind European standards: "Women, in addition to earning 15% less than men, have little chance of find a job especially in the southern regions, where 6 out of 10 are out of the job market”. Not to mention domestic violence, which is on the increase: 120 women killed in 2012, one every three days.
Other data are then enumerated, probably significant but certainly incomparable with those of the Third World: "Even if 72,4% of Italians own the house where they live, only 56% of families own a computer, 45,3% a dishwasher (how many have it in the Third World? Ed), 33,4% an air conditioning system”. At least this last figure could be considered virtuous, given the negative consequences on the environment, but not: "Although Italian summers are among the hottest in Europe". So, just to close with another cliché.
