A recently published book tackles the subject of women’s work in a concrete and down-to-earth way

Equality is easier said than done. In real life it’s a different story. So different that, often, in many companies, a good culture of production – which also includes real equality between men and women in the workplace – is still more or less a mirage. So, what can be done? It was in order to seek an answer to this question that Rita Querzè – a Corriere della Sera columnist – wrote her book ‘Donne e lavoro. Rivoluzione in sei mosse’ (‘Women and Work. Revolution in Six Moves’), which draws a crystal clear conclusion: “Talking about the need for a ‘revolution’ in the patterns of women’s work is not a luxury, but a necessity”.

Querzè recounts in just under two hundred pages (which provide for a quick, easy read), how, for a woman, the freedom to work fundamentally does not exist.  But there’s more. Because in Querzè’s pages, we learn that 50% of women are unemployed, motherhood is still considered a hindrance and wives, mothers and daughters are usually the ones who take on the free care work (in as many as 70% of cases). Added to all this is the wage gap between men and women – which now stands at 16.5 per cent – and the heightened difficulty of pursuing a career at an age when companies tend to see young women as ‘in the balance’, preferably not to be relied on because they might soon have children. In short, examples of companies with a different attitude towards equality seem to be the exception rather than a rule that is spreading.

As the good reporter she is, Querzè illustrates everything by telling stories of women directly affected by these issues, not only describing the measures in place today, but also pointing out possible ways to accelerate change through reforms from above and a change of mentality from below. Each chapter of the book thus highlights a problem and at the same time proposes a possible way forward to address it (from credit to working hours, from wages to feminism). All this is aimed at both men and women, because – as she explains – only together will it be possible to build new and healthier balances.

Rita Querzè’s book is worth reading, it contains the seeds for a debate that has been kept under wraps or misinterpreted for too long and, above all, it contains the elements for a change of pace that must concern everyone. Yes, because the issue of equality is something that really concerns everyone.

Donne e lavoro. Rivoluzione in sei mosse

Rita Querzè

Post Editori, 2023

The comparative analysis of collective agreements provides an accurate picture of the rules to be applied

The rules of work that are changing based on the results of the discussions between the stakeholders of companies. An (often) intense, but always constructive dialogue which, when observed, can say a lot about the actual level of that corporate culture that seeks to reconcile work and life demands, as well as productivity and liveability, in factory and office environments. This is a cognitive goal that can be approached by observing and comparing the national collective labour agreements of the different branches of industry. And it was one of the findings of the research carried out by Renato Brunetta (President of the National Council for Economics and Labour (CNEL)) and Chiara Altilio (Visiting Fellow at the CNEL) entitled ‘Non di solo lavoro vive l’uomo. Il contributo della contrattazione al corretto equilibrio tra persona, carichi di cura e lavoro. Una verifica sull’archivio CNEL dei contratti collettivi’ (‘Man does not live by work alone. The contribution of bargaining to the correct balance between the individual, care and workloads. An audit of the CNEL collective agreement archive’ recently published in the series ‘Casi e materiali di discussione: mercato del lavoro e contrattazione collettiva” dello stesso Consiglio.’ Case studies and discussion materials: labour market and collective bargaining’, also by the Council.

The two authors start, on the one hand, by observing the increasingly pressing need to reconcile life and work and, on the other, from the need for a ‘monitoring and evaluation path’ on how these needs (also enshrined in the law) are actually considered in the real-life production scenario. In order to begin studying the subject accurately, Brunetta and Altilio decided to verify whether the collective labour agreements had taken on board the contents of the regulations and the findings of the dialogue between companies and trade unions. The basis for the work was the national archive of collective labour contracts and agreements.

The analysis conducted thus covered several large groups of tools: the contributions, reimbursements and benefits, but also the services and benefits provided, as well as the aspects of work organisation indicated by the individual contracts examined on a sector-specific basis.

The snapshot that Brunetta and Altilio take of the state of the art of collective bargaining with regard to work-life balance tools is as attentive to the details as it is to the big picture. And it offers an important indication: while national contracts testify to the attention paid to the topic and the willingness to implement that dictated by the law, there is still room for considerable improvement, starting from transferring it into company labour agreements.

The incipit to the whole survey is important: “Demographic changes, new and increasing vulnerabilities, changing family structures and the employment dynamics of our modern labour markets themselves are profoundly influencing the relationship between people and economic processes. It is no longer just a problem, already complex in itself, of combining organisational well-being with work productivity. In the background an urgent need is emerging: to contribute overall to a fairer and more inclusive society by prioritising people in the dynamics of production and work contexts, not just through words, but also through actions. Contexts that are increasingly called upon to become places for the development of good interpersonal relations where, in other words, the idea that the needs of the working person are not secondary to organisational and production requirements is no longer an exception, entrusted only to corporate social responsibility’.

Non di solo lavoro vive l’uomo. Il contributo della contrattazione al corretto equilibrio tra persona, carichi di cura e lavoro. Una verifica sull’archivio CNEL dei contratti collettivi (Man does not live by work alone. The contribution of bargaining to the correct balance between the individual, care and workloads. An audit of the CNEL collective agreement archive)

Renato Brunetta, Presidente CNEL, Chiara Altilio, Visiting Fellow presso il CNEL

Casi e materiali di discussione: mercato del lavoro e contrattazione collettiva, N. 10 | 2024

“Italy is still standing also and above all thanks to the factories”. This is the clear, direct opinion of Salvatore Rossi, former general director of the Bank of Italy and chairman of Tim, who has lived his life first as a civil servant and then with a responsibility as head of one of the largest Italian companies, which has proved just as challenging. In a conversation with Paolo Bricco published in Il Sole24Ore (26 May) Rossi analyses the country’s long transition during the period from the end of the twentieth century to the 2000s. He recalls the difficulties of consolidating our public finances to join the euro area and the bumpy road of privatizations (“Those of Eni, Enel and what was then Finmeccanica worked, but Telecom’s, with its ‘bull in a china shop’ Gianni Agnelli, did not and would later fall through with the takeover bid organised by Emilio Gnutti and supported by Roberto Colaninno, leaving a huge bank debt to be offloaded on the company”). He recognises the merit of the entrepreneurs who reacted to the Great International Financial Crisis of 2008/2009 by investing, innovating and aiming to conquer international markets (“They were skilled and quick and, although they were in no way bound to do so, they took that crisis by the horns, they risked the life of their companies”). And, having dismissed “the rhetoric of ‘small is beautiful’ which I have never subscribed to”, he looks at current events and maintains: “The absence of big business is certainly a structural problem, because it is not only an incubator of innovation, but also a synthesizer of systemic complexities”. Here, in Italy, today “the phenomenon of the internationalised medium-sized enterprise is of great interpretative and substantial interest”. A lever of economic development, also thanks to the strength of an export trade worth over 650 billion. But also of innovation and social cohesion. “The Italy that is still standing thanks to the factories”, in fact. A precious social capital.

A capital to be strengthened, of course. With far-sighted industrial policy choices, in a European key. And with fiscal levers that, as already occurred with the laws of “Industry 4.0”, stimulate private investments. Quite the opposite of the controversial “110% bonus” for building renovations. But automatically and objectively in the name of the reward for those who, by investing, innovate and contribute to the growth of the GDP and an increase in exports. A common thread that links productivity and competitiveness, work and widespread well-being.

Italy and the other large EU countries are essentially manufacturers and processers. And their industry, today, risks being put into crisis, in terms of international competitiveness, due to the shortage of strategic raw materials, but also due to a strong dependence on US and Chinese technologies for the developments of Artificial Intelligence. This is why it is essential to urge the EU and national governments to make political choices to address the problem. A key issue, which should be discussed in depth during this electoral campaign for the renewal of the European Parliament and therefore for the composition of the new Brussels Commission (however the debate, is unfortunately excessively dominated by matters concerning national internal policies). And one for which in any case, Europe will have to take responsibility, when the votes have been cast.

In terms of choices. And resources.

There is a strong relationship, in fact, between economic policy and European defence and security policy, in the new geopolitical context. And there are commitments to be made in terms of investments, for energy, defence, scientific research and technological development and to continue to face the environmental and digital twin transition, without finding ourselves as onlookers in the face of the massive strategic investments made by USA and China. From 600 to 1,000 billion per year for the next ten years, according to increasingly clear calculations in the Brussels offices. Huge resources. To be recovered by strengthening the common EU budget. And to be obtained on the international financial markets, with Eurobonds.

Industrial policy must be seen in this context. The business organisations in Italy, France and Germany have been repeating this in agreement for some time and it was also reiterated during the recent B7.

“So far, Europe has been distracted, imposing ever more stringent constraints, such as the Green Deal, without taking into account that the manufacturing sector generates work and wealth”, notes Nicola Saldutti in Corriere della Sera (11 May), adding that “it takes time to reconfigure an industrial system” and therefore to give companies the political framework and the tools they need to cope with international competition.

“EU industry must start again from science and innovation” was the headline of Il Sole24Ore (25 May) regarding the lively discussions on the future of Europe that took place during the recent Trento Economics Festival. Saldotto continues: “For our country, the second European manufacturing sector (a record that must be maintained, but is not automatic), our factories are precisely the main guarantee also for the public debt, due to their sustainability. Maybe the time has come to make some decisions. Not making them means losing”.

The fact that the measures envisaged by “Industry 5.0” to continue innovating the production system are at a standstill, without funding and concrete choices, rings a serious alarm bell that should not be underestimated. “The manufacturing system needs to be flexible, resilient and digital. And sustainability is no longer just a focus on the environment, instead the human component also counts” (Il Sole24Ore, 17 May).

To continue thinking about factories as a lever for development but also for social sustainability, the function of our medium and medium-large companies, of the so-called “pocket multinationals”, of those excellences in innovation and exports that Rossi talks about, comes back to the foreground. . As does that of our production chains, along which small businesses can also be brought together.

To support this system, in the face of the ongoing technological challenge, including applications of Artificial Intelligence, a collaborative diffusion of the knowledge available is also a must. This must pass through the supply chain relationships, and feature technological skills that are continuously updated. Fiscal leverage is fundamental, to strengthen the process.

In short, it is crucial that all the subjects in the field collaborate: “Efficient public administration, an open and collaborative business system and international-level research to trigger an attractive virtuous circle, involving businesses, universities and public and private research centres”, claims Ferruccio Resta, former rector of the Polytechnic of Milan and president of the Kessler Foundation (Il Sole24Ore, 25 May).

This is the real concept of ​​Made in Italy that we need to develop. Innovation, productivity, global competitiveness, environmental but above all social and economic sustainability. Italian industry, which has long had a European scope (mechanics, mechatronics, robotics, automotive and aerospace, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber, shipbuilding as well as the traditional worlds of clothing, furniture and agro-industry) is moving precisely in this direction. It is up to politics to play its part effectively in the interest of the country system.

(Photo Getty Images)

“It is not right to take a close-up look at these architectures, with all their typically exuberant features, and think one can understand the whole by examining the details.” Thus wrote the architect Giuliano Guiducci in an article published in Pirelli magazine in 1961. The article bore an evocative title – “Fabbriche come monumenti“ (Factories as Monuments) – and examined the peculiarity and complexities of production facilities. Guiducci’s words clearly convey the challenge of industrial photography, which, by “starting from the details”, needs to capture the diverse mix of people, machines, architectural spaces, and the know-how that defines these places. A challenge that is by no means insignificant, even for the greatest photographers.
Industrial photography began to take shape in Italy towards the end of the nineteenth century, accompanying developments in the national manufacturing sector. It emerged both as a distinct photographic genre, with recurring themes and subjects, and as a meta-genre that also included others, such as architecture, portraiture, reportage, and still lifes. The key feature of this particular art form is therefore not primarily its imagery, but the relationship and mediation between the photographer’s sensitivity and style and the company’s communication needs. The company needs to convey its ideological, social, and cultural values to the outside world, thereby creating its own recognisable identity.

From the outset, Pirelli opened its factories to artists, allowing them to document the production processes that turned rubber into tyres, cable sheathings, transmission belts, game balls, capes, and so on. The 1922 photographic shoot inside the Bicocca departments, to celebrate the Group’s 50th anniversary, captures the different “spirits” of the factory: The photographer focuses in particular on the machinery used for the various production cycles – mixers, calenders, and rolling mills – as well as on the spaces, such as the raw materials warehouse and the vulcanisation area. Great emphasis is naturally given to the workers, with shots that show their skill and the adeptness of their hands at work. Stories of the factories also appear in artistic images that illustrate the evolution of industrial photography, reflecting the social and aesthetic changes of the time. These range from the static settings of early twentieth-century photographs, with the workers posing in front of the lens – as we see in Luca Comerio’s Workers Leaving the Pirelli Factory in Via Ponte Seveso of 1905, a tribute to the manufacturing power achieved by the company – to the more expressionist pictures by John Deakin dated 1961. The English artist was a friend and collaborator of Francis Bacon and was famous for his crude street scenes and fashion reports for Vogue. In the early 1960s, he worked in Milan, Rome and especially in Genoa, where he explored the world of industry, photographing the foundries and steelworks of the Italsider iron and steel group. The shots he took in the Bicocca plant bring out the most human aspects of the factory. His psychological investigations, penetrating portraits and the heroic relationship between man and work all emerge in his dramatic black-and-white views, revealing great technical mastery.

Photography has always played an extremely important role in Pirelli’s communication policies, also in terms of its house organs: as well as showcasing the company’s modernity and technological advancements, the illustrations tell a story of the age, portraying post-war Italy as it was brought back to life by its industry, the driving force behind the economic boom of that era. Many auteur reportages were made inside the factories and published in Pirelli magazine: the Tolmezzo paper mill, which became part of the Group in 1953, focused on the production of cellulose for rayon. It was the focus of an exceptionally elegant photo shoot by Fulvio Roiter, who explored the premises of one of Italy’s most important industrial paper production complexes, from the wood warehouse to the purification plants and the workshops used for collecting the reels. Ugo Mulas put his name to some of the photographs that accompany the extensive investigation into women’s work in Italy that ran in three issues of the periodical in 1963. His images capture workers on the job at the Superga shoe factory in Triggiano, the garment factory in Arona, and the factory in Arco Felice, which produced submarine electricity cables. It was the “Long P” factory in Campania that took centre stage in the 1964 photoshoot by Horst H. Baumann. In it, he documented the construction phases of the Sacoi cable, which was designed to transport energy from the Sulcis thermoelectric power plant to mainland Italy. His photographs, which are notable for their powerful visual impact, include images of the cable being wound, coil after coil, in a large accumulation tank for the vacuum treatment that would give the cable its necessary electrical properties. The following year, this grand project led to the plant being awarded the prize of the National Association of Italian Engineers and Architects (ANIAI) for the best electronic engineering achievement in Italy. In the late 1960s Arno Hammacher visited the interiors of the Solari company in Udine, a Pirelli subsidiary at the height of its fame for international supplies of flip clocks and alphanumeric teleindicators. Springs and wheels, palettes and rollers: the focus was entirely on the components required to move the hours and minutes in the iconic Cifra 3 clock. About ten years earlier, the Dutch photographer had also put his name to the back covers of the magazine, with black-and-white close-ups of the production lines at the Milano Bicocca factory. These images ranged from materials such as metal braids, bales of raw rubber ready for lamination, spools of copper wire and machinery, including stranding machines in operation, and products such as telecommunications cables, as well as tyres fresh out of the vulcanisation mould.

The tradition of photographers in factories continues to this day with internationally renowned artists called upon to work with the company. Carlo Furgeri Gilbert has done photoshoots at the Group’s factories in Italy and around the world, from Bollate to Settimo Torinese, to Breuberg and Izmit, through to Slatina. The Pirelli Industrial Centre on the outskirts of Turin was documented by Peter Lindbergh in 2016, as part of the project that led to the creation of the Pirelli Calendar the following year, and with photos of Alessandro Scotti, which bring to an end the 2021 Annual Report. In a blend of documentation and expression, these powerful and evocative images capture the poetry of symbolic places of work. They reflect the humility and freedom of the photographers’ eyes, as they observe “the movements of men and machines as if watching a ritual“.

An original book just published tells the story of measurement as a creative act that generates growth

Measuring to learn more. To grow, or rather to be able to develop. To learn more precisely about the world around us. And measurement as a discipline that lays the foundations for imagination. Measuring not only as an act of engineering or statistics, but as a profound act of culture (a form of production even). These concepts are explored in Katà Métron, Il libro della misura (Katà Métron, the book of measuring), edited by Riccardo Varvelli. A literary and technical experiment, this is a book to read fully and a tool to aid thinking.

The brainchild of Enrico Loccioni (who, in addition to the company that bears his name, has also set up a publisher and has a specific and notable vision of business), Katà Métron was born from humans’ experience of business and curiosity. And from the very first pages, it is clear that this is a particular editorial “product”. It is not a historical essay, as is explained, a scientific text or a children’s book (even though it has a bright yellow hardcover and features illustrations), and nor is it a design volume. Rather, it’s “all these things together”. Its particularity begins with the title – katà métron in ancient Greek means “according to the right measure”. The idea behind the book is to provide an account of measurement and measuring as parts “of the history and development of man”. Measuring, therefore, to understand, improve, overcome limits and innovate. These are actions that, on closer inspection, form the basis of any self-respecting company.

Varvelli is not the only one whose work involves measuring and measure – there are also engineers, designers, data scientists, philosophers and trainers. Each is intent on offering their point of view, an expression of measuring in everyday life. On top of this (under the supervision of Corraini Edizioni), there are also illustrations by Harriet Russell. Designed as an educational book for a master’s degree on measure, the book then became a connected object, combining teaching with play, art with engineering, design with philosophy, matter with the network.

Through a series of codes, readers can also enter the digital world of the book, which becomes a constantly evolving collection of tailor-made content.

A simple book only in appearance, Katà Métron should be read carefully and with curiosity, in the knowledge that what you have before you is a product that is the result of a community, of an endeavour of knowledge that Loccioni himself is quick to outline, setting the tone for everything and providing, on closer inspection, the perfect definition of a well-rounded business: “A community of work that gathers around a project, rather than along the production line; an organisation in which there are no leaders, hierarchies, divisions, but multidisciplinary teams working to find the right solution; a place where people, collaborators and non-employees, hold the greatest value, stakeholders in the work who invest their years of study in a job they help to develop”.

Katà Métron. Il libro della misura (Katà Métron. The Book of Measurement)

Riccardo Varvelli (ed.)

Desiderio Editore, 2023

A thesis analyses the theory and practice of companies supporting artistic and cultural activities

Culture driven by enterprise. Not only a culture of business, but culture as a vision of life, an awareness of beauty, art, history. A key expression of corporate social responsibility, the activity of many companies to support the artistic and cultural sector continues to be a significant aspect of the economic system in Italy and abroad. And it is something that, despite the numerous examples, still requires further study and exploration. This is what Eleonora Bavastro’s research work sets out to do. The resulting thesis was presented at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice as part of the Economics and Management of Arts and Cultural Activities study programme.

As the first few pages emphasise, the work aims “to highlight the relationships between large companies and their support for the art world and the benefits that both parties can derive from such relationships”. Bavastro uses a simple method to conduct her investigation: first she focuses in on the various aspects of the topic, before verifying the theory through a case study.

The detailed analysis of the evolution of relations between business and culture thus seeks to highlight not only the advantages that artistic endeavours can obtain through the financial support of banks and large companies – facilitating public access to culture and ensuring that artistic and cultural output is carefully maintained – but also the benefits to those providing the funding, such as the boost to their reputation in the eyes of stakeholders and the promotion of good corporate social responsibility (one of the measures used by ESG criteria, among other things).

The work then looks particularly at UniCredit, taking the company as a model for its analysis of the relationship between banks and culture. It studies the measures the bank has taken in recent years to support the arts and culture, investigating for the purpose of the study how its main stakeholders perceive the company’s interventions in these fields.

Eleonora Bavastro’s research has the great merit of condensing a complex theme into a limited number of pages while expressing it from a practical point of view.

Il contributo delle aziende al settore artistico e culturale. Il caso UniCredit (The Contribution of Companies to the Artistic and Cultural Sector. The UniCredit Example)

Eleonora Bavastro

Thesis, Ca’ Foscari University, Master’s Degree in Economics and Management of Arts and Cultural Activities, 2023

2 billion euros in false tax credits relating to “superbonuses” of 110% (designed to support home renovations in Italy) are in the hands of mafia gangs. The fraud perpetrated against the Italian state has been carried out with the complicity of professionals who appeared to be “above suspicion”. The funds have been diverted to the criminal families of the ‘Ndrangheta, the Camorra and the Sicilian Stidda (formerly in opposition to Cosa Nostra). The estimate was made in recent days by Italy’s DIA, the Anti-Mafia Investigation Division (Il Sole 24 Ore, 18 May) and is believed to be an approximate figure. The billions would allow mafia organisations to finance drug trafficking and other illicit activities.

The transactions relating to the “superbonus” are just the latest news to emerge on the criminal economy. This thriving economy is prospering in a climate marked by an apparent lack of attention on mafia crimes. Leonardo Sciascia, perhaps the intellectual most sensitive to the dangers of the mafia’s subversive infiltration said that “I fear the mafia when it doesn’t shoot”, because it means that it can calmly and silently go about its business, devastating politics, the economy and public authorities. Indeed, recent news reports reveal the proliferation of mafia activities in the heart of the major Italian cities, through organisations’ control of famous bars and restaurants, convenient screens for laundering money and taking charge of local areas. And suspicions of mafia involvement also loom behind large public contracts in Genoa, Sicily, Puglia and Lombardy.

This is nothing new, when you think about it. Mafia bosses have always looked to the most profitable businesses. And criminal operations are now so widespread in Italy that they render the term “infiltration” obsolete – instead the current reality reflects the genuine well-structured presence of gang leaders.

Il Sole 24 Ore is therefore right to give great prominence on its front page to the news about the 2 billion euros of fake tax credits. In doing so, the country’s main financial newspaper is using its authority to signal the deep alarm of companies at a criminal drift wreaking profound damage on the competitiveness of healthy companies, on markets and on the proper functioning of the public administration.

Legality is at the core of businesses and the mafia is a radical enemy of development – this has long been a theme close to the hearts of the leaders of Confindustria, Assolombarda and other regional and sector-specific trade organisations. Competition is distorted, the quality of products and services deteriorates, and job security is compromised. Widespread tax evasion and contract breaches also mean that regular businesses are put in serious difficulty, with damage to the environment (through illegal waste disposal), health, quality of life and civil society. Construction, procurement, healthcare, commercial and financial services are the sectors most affected by mafia infiltration. Over time, the entire economic system becomes radically compromised.

These considerations, which the mafia “superbonus” fraud has returned to the spotlight, have led to growing corporate sensitivity on issues concerning the quality of the judicial system (this was echoed at the roundtable organised in mid-May, in Milan, by the law firm Bonelli Erede and Aidaf, the association of family businesses, on the topic of “Businesses and justice: challenges for businesses and investor appeal”).

We therefore need greater commitment to combat financial crime – and this starts with the fight against the mafia. And we need to pay greater attention to responsibly reforming the judicial system so that it is more efficient, effective and timely – including by spending wisely the resources made available by the NRRP.

“An efficient judicial system encourages innovation, promotes investment and the appeal of doing business, improves the quality of credit and reduces its cost, as well as renewing the faith of citizens in how a democratic state functions”, argues a study by Assonime in April 2024, citing data that show an improvement in the situation but also reveal persistent serious inefficiencies, shortcomings and delays.

Businesses insist on the need for “legal certainty”. This means timeframes for the resolution of civil disputes (there is a growing inclination for alternative tools, such as arbitration and mediation, in part thanks to the positive example of the Arbitration Panel of Milan’s Chamber of Commerce) and the timely completion of criminal investigations. It means balanced and effective sanctions through clear and well-founded rulings. But it also means – and this is a key point – the clarity of laws (with a critical reference to legislation that is often of questionable quality), the convergence between national standards and European and international legislation, and the long-term stability of the rules themselves (the continuous changes to tax and tax provisions, for example, place companies in serious difficulty and prevent them from carrying out long-term tax planning with any certainty).

The cracks between confusing and contradictory legislation with unwieldy rules that are awkwardly applied provide the perfect habitat for mafia clans. And those clans exploit every opportunity to distort the rules and circumvent sanctions, increasing their wealth and power. This alarm bell sounded on “superbonus” tax credits in the hands of the mafia and concerns about contracts and subcontracts deserves to be heard – and paid attention to. And clear anti-mafia, judicial and political choices need to be made. This needs to be done in the name of justice, this much is obvious. But it also needs to be done in the name of decent sustainable economic development, civic society and – why not? – the hope for a better kind of politics.

(photo Getty Images)

A book written by an economist and a philosopher provides the information to start understanding this technology

To make the most of artificial intelligence (AI) and not be swamped by this new technology, it’s crucial for everyone – especially managers, entrepreneurs, and leaders, who hold their own and many others’ destinies in their hands – to get to grips with it. This requires getting stuck in, maybe by reading“Digital Sapiens. Decidere con l’intelligenza artificiale”(Digital Sapiens: Deciding with Artificial Intelligence), a book by economist Nicola Lattanzi and philosopher Andrea Vestrucci, which aims to shed light on a topic that is not just hotly debated but also rife with misunderstandings.

Lattanzi and Vestrucci tackle the idea of AI as both an “extension of our brain” and a tool to guide and control human actions. They explore the complex issue of AI’s benefits and dangers in its dealings with humans (Homo Sapiens). Their journey starts with an analysis of human behaviour and choice, paving the way for a detailed comparison of “artificial” and “human” decisions. The authors probe AI’s qualities, presenting it not just as a challenge but also as a possible answer, depending on our full understanding and use of it. The heart of Lattanzi and Vestrucci’s argument is that decision-making with AI is doable, but hinges on our deep knowledge of its workings and our ability to use its power well.

In the book’s final pages, the authors stress this point: “Although we can create Artificial Intelligence that performs tasks with remarkable precision and speed, the qualities that really define our humanity – like creativity, empathy and spirituality –haven’t been fully captured in the digital world yet.” And again: “The challenge is to ensure our enthusiasm and pursuit of innovation go hand in hand with a renewed appreciation of the extraordinary mental abilities of Homo Sapiens.  In this way, we, the digital-age Sapiens, can aim not just for a technologically advanced society but also for a more human one, with a greater awareness of what it means to be human.” A must-read book by Nicola Lattanzi and Andrea Vestrucci.

Digital Sapiens. Decidere con l’intelligenza artificiale

Nicola Lattanzi, Andrea Vestrucci

Castelvecchi, 2024

A doctoral thesis presented at Sapienza University, Rome, seeks to shed light on a persistently complex area between business, sustainability and finance

A business dedicated to sustainability, along with a finance sector just as devoted to it, creates a vital mix that enhances our whole production culture. Tiziana Nupieri recently presented her doctoral thesis at Sapienza University, tackling this topic. Her study seeks to uncover

“the foundations of sustainable finance in Italy through a values-led and cognitive lens, looking at the key players who define what sustainability means in this context.”

Nupieri’s field study thus has a clear objective: to contend that “sustainable finance, contrary to the prevailing narrative in public and political discourse, serves as an effective instrument to perpetuate (…) several core tenets of the neoliberal paradigm, while also facilitating the initiation of strategies in line with a progressive financialisation of sustainability.”

The thesis initially sets the stage by outlining the theory and practice of sustainable finance, both globally and within the Italian context. It then explores the key players in the field, incorporating a series of interviews with them.

Nupieri’s thorough investigation reveals the intricate interplay between the goals of economic sustainability and those of the financial sector. Despite, or perhaps because of, various ambiguities in its definition, Nupieri suggests that sustainable finance can be understood as an initiative to integrate sustainability into financial strategies. Furthermore, the study illustrates that the financialisation of sustainability is propelled by stakeholders who, by merging their relational and specialised cognitive resources, manage to shape the concept of ‘sustainable finance’. They do this through discursive strategies that establish causality, where sustainability often plays a secondary role to the expansion of financial principles and mechanisms.” In other words, there is an intersection where profit-driven finance meets the distinct objectives of sustainability, which, while not without its challenges, also presents certain opportunities that need to be cultivated and developed.

Tiziana Nupieri’s research is challenging to engage with, yet it offers valuable insights for grasping a highly topical and complex subject.

Finanza più Sostenibilità uguale Finanza Sostenibile? Attori, processi e rappresentazioni nel caso italiano

Tiziana Nupieri

PhD thesis in Applied Social Sciences, Sapienza University, 2024

Vibrant, dynamic cities grow and improve their residents’ living and working conditions partly through regular self-reflection and engagement in open discussions. Essentially, they thrive by talking about their progress while avoiding the traps of empty self-praise and the secretive, downcast silence often found in local cliques. Milan is a prime example of such a city. It seems to have a strong tendency for both criticism and self-criticism. See for example Lucia Tozzi’s “The Invention of Milan” (Cronopio), which provides a thorough critique of the “cult of communication and urban policies”. There’s also a clever use of nostalgia in Andrea Kerbaker’s “Sentimental Street Guide of Milan” (Bur Rizzoli), which shares stories of Milan’s changing face, taking readers through Via Bagutta, Via Mac Mahon, Ripa di Porta Ticinese, Via Porpora, Piazzetta Cuccia, and 28 other key spots, from the historic centre to the edges of the city. Then there is Alberto Saibene’s excellent accounts in “Milan at the End of the Twentieth Century – Stories, Places, and Characters of a City That No Longer Exists” and “Stories of Another Italy” (Edizioni Casagrande).

Milan’s bibliography is almost boundless, matched only by the vast output of Sicilian writers and texts about Sicily, with Elio Vittorini linking the two, showing a dedication to thorough discussion and debate in public conversation, which bodes well for the city’s future.

Milan certainly resists stereotypes. To capture its essence, we need words and images that go beyond the shallow ones that flood the media, including social media, which tend to prefer simple, striking effects and immediate emotions.

Need proof? The news is once again full of stories about widespread violence. For example, an undocumented migrant severely injured a police officer at Central Station. Another incident involved an illegal migrant and several officers in Lambrate. People are increasingly worried about street crimes like mugging, pickpocketing, theft, and drug dealing. Arrests for these crimes have jumped by 30% in recent months compared to last year, as Fabio Roia, the head of the Court of Milan, pointed out in la Repubblica on 11 May). There is an increasingly widespread feeling of a lack of safety – with all the accompanying political polemic.

“Milan: Gotham City” is a snappy phrase that’s caught on social media.

But does it hold water? Looking at crime figures, the answer is no. The Prefecture and the Questura, after examining past crime records, report a drop. Il Foglio points out, “Though anecdotes might hint at a safety emergency in Milan, the numbers do not. Crime in Milan has dropped by 21,000 cases over the last ten years, despite a 5 percent rise in population.”

Even when we look back and reflect, we are very far from the “years of lead” when Milan suffered not just from terrorism but also from fierce clashes among criminal groups led by Francis “Angel Face” Turatello, René Vallanzasca, and Angelo “Il Tebano” Epaminonda. To understand more, it’s well worth reading “War Songs” by Stefano Nazzi (Mondadori), which recounts conflicts, vendettas and loves in 1970s Milan. We are very far, too, from the period when Milan fell prey to the cruelty of Sicilian Mafiosi and the financial plundering by their bankers, like Michele Sindona, in the stock market and the broader business world.

Despite the data and historical background, a feeling of insecurity remains, posing challenges for both politicians and public services. The local mayor does not have power over public order, since that duty lies with the state and national authorities. Managing immigration, often associated with the “street crime” we’ve mentioned, needs joint efforts from ministries, regional bodies and local councils. Franco Gabrielli, the former Chief of Police and ex-Prefect of Rome, now working as Mayor Beppe Sala’s Security Delegate in Milan, is right to call for “structural changes” on security (la Repubblica, 10 May). He explains that “the security crisis isn’t just a Milan problem, but a very delicate issue that touches all big cities in the West. Although Italy hasn’t faced the extreme effects seen in other European and non-European places, we must not make the mistake of overlooking the changes happening in our cities.” Mayor Sala also criticises the government for “merely coining slogans”, while also challenging the political system that allows it, as he wrote in “On security, the left must stop stuttering” (Corriere della Sera, 11 May).

So, Milan needs a better account of itself – with frank honesty while acknowledging its strengths and potential, and security needs, civic progress, inclusivity and integration. Indeed, these were the themes that came to the fore during “Civil Week”, which saw significant youth engagement and debates around the theme “The Constitution is us”. And there needs to be a new focus on economic, employment and business concerns, as well as the challenges posed by the rise of the “knowledge economy”, which is especially pertinent for Milan as it hosts 200,000 university students from across Italy’s regions and increasingly from overseas. (Here, Milan is the only city that can boast three female university heads: Marina Brambilla at the Statale, Donatella Sciuto at the Politecnico, and Giovanna Iannantuoni at Bicocca.)

Milan must therefore be seen in all its complexity, like other major global cities. Although in fact it is quite small, with just over 1.4 million residents (and growing), its metropolitan reach and role as a commuter hub expand its influence to 4 million. The High-Speed rail network, especially the busy Milan-Turin-Bologna route, and the soon-to-be-added Genoa link, create a landscape of bustling movement and exchange. This vibrancy has also seen Milan transform into a key tourist spot. The city attracts a diverse mix of visitors, including those coming for business and conferences, to attend its universities and educational institutions, use its top-notch healthcare, and enjoy leisure activities like culture and shopping.

A vital issue arises: the complicated relationship between Milan’s “city users” and its residents, marked by the differing views, needs and desires of those who simply “use” the city and those who live there.

People coming to Milan for work are key to the city’s allure and expansion. In today’s geo-economy, the flow of people, capital, business and ideas is vital. Yet this has a big social price: it burdens areas meant for fewer people, strains services, disrupts everyday life, and shifts economic values.

Milan’s challenge is to set up strong governance to handle relationships and integration, especially with migration – a job not just for the government but also for the community and businesses. The aim must be to make the most of Milan, encouraging its growth without draining its resources. Striking this balance is tough and the task must be tackled with intelligence, precision and kindness.

Milan, like any modern city, relies on the market – with its pace, values, and competitive spirit. But its growth and balance should not be abandoned to market forces alone.

Milan must strive to revive a community spirit, giving a clear purpose and room space to its people; it must maintain the tradition of progress and unity, fostering wealth, job creation, and inclusivity, combining productivity and sustainability. “Regaining the ‘Us’,” as Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference,

aptly puts it, is not only about good politics and policies; it also involves trying to write a new and better narrative of what Milan is.

(photo Getty Images)