Simplify procedures, rationalize the required documentation, reduce administrative procedure times and increase information clarity at the start of proceedings. These are the main requests that Italian companies address to the public administration, according to the 2016 Pmi Focus by LS Lexjus Sinacta and the Tagliacarne Institute. The research is based both on statistical information from institutional sources and on a survey of a representative sample of a thousand Italian SMEs.
According to the survey, 50,6% of companies believe that the quality of the services rendered by the Public Administration has remained unchanged over the past three years, compared with 19,5% who believe it has even worsened.
“Even if the PA declares ample room for improvement – reads the Focus – which are actually evident in many sectors (single environmental authorisation, construction desk, strengthening of self-certification, elimination of redundant administrative burdens, etc.), this improvement is not actually perceived by a large number of companies. In this sense, it is appropriate to imagine, in addition to a further strengthening and strengthening of these actions, an action to control their implementation (especially in the South) and greater communication between the business sector and that of the PA on the simplification measures implemented field".
The survey then shows how the lack of growth in corporate investments should not be attributed to a lack of shares by public administrators in support of the business world, given that many measures are welcome (such as the "Investment Bonus" or the subsidized loans provided for by the " Nuova Sabatini”), but to a widespread skepticism (which creeps in especially in the universe of smaller companies) about a lasting recovery of the economic cycle and a short-term recovery of consumption and the demand for goods and services activated by households.
In Europe, finally reports the study, Italy ranks 24th out of 28 EU countries for the quality and efficiency of the public administration: worse than us only Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. The ranking is drawn up on the basis of the European Quality of Government Index (EQI), an indicator set up as part of a community research project through a survey involving 85 citizens in 206 regions. The top 5 of this European ranking is dominated by Northern countries: Denmark is in first position, followed by Finland and Sweden; immediately off the podium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
As for taxation on businesses and on labour, Eurostat data confirm that Italy always ranks well above the average of the EU 28 countries, and in the first places in a limited comparison with "structurally close" countries such as France, Spain and Germany.
* Ratio between total tax revenues (including the tax on labor paid by companies - social contributions - and net of the deduction of uncollected amounts) and the GDP annually produced in the country
Source: G. Tagliacarne Institute elaborations on Eurostat data
