The Economic History of Italy 1860-1990 gives a scholarly and authoritative account of Italy's progress from a rural economy to an industrialized nation, covering in detail agriculture, trade, banking, public intervention, the standard of living, and education. It provides an interpretative account of the economic history of Italy since unification and offers an extensive resource of quantitative data. Professor Zamagni argues that Italy only effectively became an industrialized nation after the Second World War, with the south still being clearly behind the rest of the country. Her argument makes use of both macroeconomic approaches, in looking at the growth of income, investment, consumption, trade, and the role of the state, and microeconomic approaches, drawing conclusions from the history of individual banks and corporations. Italy's movement from peripheral status in Europe to a central position as a prosperous country was achieved through a remarkable flexibility in adapting new technology and new institutions.
Reviews
`Stefano Zamagni, 51, is considered a world expert on economics and recently even became a consultant to the anti-Mafia agency of the Italian government. Considered one of Italy's most brilliant economists.' * Paul Bompard, Times Higher Education Supplement *
'a nicely written and stimulating account of the progress of the Italian economy since unification ... As well as serving as an fine synthesis of recent writing in Italian economic historiography, the book also bears witness to the enormous and varied output of its author over the last two decades ... thoughtful and wide-ranging analysis, replete with excellent data ... European economic historians will surely welcome this book with open arms.' * Joseph Harrison, University of Manchester, Economic History Society 1995 *
It is a remarkable transformation; the energy of its historiography has matched that of the country's development ... the work is rich in information about the sectoral development of manufacturing, copiously illustrated from the history of major companies. It also deals comprehensively with the convoluted history of the banking sector ... infused with Professor Zamagni's indefatigable and attractive enthusiasm for her subject and seasoned with much lively personal commentary. It can be highly recommended and should go in several copies on to library shelves. * Business History *
The most welcome translation of Professor Zamagni's Dalla periferia al centro ... makes available to the broader English-speaking community a text that reviews the current literature with unexceptionable thoroughness, and presents even the interpretations that differ from the author's own with admirable fair-mindedness. The publisher andthe author are both to be commended for producing this much-needed book; with periodic revisions to keep it up to date, it should serve for a generation. * Journal of Modern Italian Studies *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198292890
Author Vera Zamagni
Format Paperback
Page Count 428
Imprint Clarendon Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 704g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 157mm * 24mm