An analysis of the situation in which organisations and businesses operate

It is important to make decisions based on the right information,  and not just with the short term in mind, but the medium term too, whilst keeping an eye on the long term.  This is a task that falls to everyone, including individuals, and it requires a balance of calculation and imagination, as it always has done.  As always, however, reliable sources and analysis are needed,  and they are available. One such example is ‘Scegliere la rotta’ (Choosing the route), the latest report from the Luigi Einaudi Centre in Turin, coordinated by Mario Deaglio and comprising a series of studies carried out by some of the world’s leading economists and analysts on the current economic and social situation.

The report begins with the observation that  until recently, the world’s reference points were still recognisable,  but today, we are not merely witnessing a new economic phase, we are witnessing a profound transformation of the global order. Above all, there is a growing realisation that a decisive shift is taking place:  the paradigm on which the West has based its growth in recent decades is changing.  For years, we imagined that the future belonged to the service sector, finance, intellectual property and knowledge,  but the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and growing geopolitical tensions have shown just how much this so-called ‘intangible’ economy depends on extremely tangible resources. Energy, infrastructure, critical raw materials and telecommunications networks are essential components of the digital economy and the economy as a whole.  One example illustrates this:  If we consider artificial intelligence or the energy transition, for example, it is clear that these cannot exist without copper, lithium, rare earth elements, water, electricity and secure supply chains.

The Luigi Einaudi Centre’s report rightly refers to the ‘rematerialisation’ of the economy and explores its implications for a development model that has long prioritised the intangible dimension.  The result is an examination of the conditions necessary for navigating a historic transition in which economic dynamics are increasingly influenced by international balances. The reader is guided on a journey that begins with an overview of the ‘great game’ currently unfolding. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of the global economic situation, the critical factors in production (energy and finance), and the situation in Italy.

As always, the work produced by the research group coordinated by Deaglio, which is ideally suited to analysis at the Einaudi Centre, is a useful guide to understanding the present.  It also provides a solid foundation for looking to the future with greater knowledge and foresight.

Scegliere la rotta

Mario Deaglio (curated by)

Guerini e Associati, 2026