Publications
Our publications aim to provide in-depth information on issues that are at the forefront of the European agenda, including commentary, research, and policy recommendations.
LEAP produces policy briefs, working papers, five bullets and a monthly newsletter. All publications are available online.
Policy Briefs
L. Stille: Securing critical materials across the Mediterranean for the EU’s renewable future
The European Union’s targets for renewable hydrogen production and broader renewable energy adoption face potentia...
July 29, 2024
D. Di Carlo, F. Genovese: Calling Snap Elections against Populists in the EU? Playing with Fire!
June’s elections tilted the European Parliament significantly to the right. The most shocking result was the National ...
June 25, 2024
C. Bastasin: Will the French elections deliver a German Europe?
In a famous speech in 1953, Thomas Mann, a towering figure of German and world literature, called on the Germans to resi...
June 19, 2024
C. Bastasin: The paradox of the European vote
In a few days, we will know the outcome of the elections for the European Parliament. The results will be carefully anal...
June 5, 2024
C. Bastasin: Può la riforma costituzionale italiana mettere a rischio l’euro?
Governi politici “di parte” potranno garantire solidità finanziaria all’Italia nell’euro? La proposta di riform...
May 13, 2024
L. Codogno: Italy’s economic miracle is in the eyes of the beholder
Italy’s overperformance relative to France and Germany since the pandemic needs to be put into perspective. Indeed, if...
May 9, 2024
C. Bastasin – Europe’s polarization: from selective deafness to furious voices
Around a third of European Union citizens live in regions or provinces where the average income today is lower than it w...
March 25, 2024
C. Bastasin: Germany’s economic weakness may help strengthen the European Union
Germany’s economic weakness, highlighted by the recession in 2023 and the uncertain outlook for the current year, ...
January 30, 2024
R. Perissich: How Europe should prepare for a second Trump term (and hope it will not happen)
It has already been a front-page subject for many months. It is now becoming an obsession. The subject is the upcoming U...
January 25, 2024
Working Papers
F. Bontadini, V. Meliciani, M. Savona, A. L. Wirkierman – Nearshoring and Farsharing in Europe within the Global Economy: Regional Trends, Structural Components and Sectoral Patterns
This paper documents recent trends in the geographical distribution of value added across Global Value Chains (GVCs). By...
August 29, 2024
A. Fabrizi, C. Fiorelli, V. Meliciani – Green research networks and environmental innovation: The role of regional absorptive capacity
This paper examines how R&D investment enhances absorptive capacity, facilitating effective knowledge transfer withi...
August 6, 2024
A. Fabrizi, C. Fiorelli, V. Meliciani: The Role of Green Networks for Environmental Innovation in European Regions
This paper investigates the role of green research networks in green innovation capabilities (proxied by green patents) ...
July 30, 2024
V. Termini – The climate emergency and the turning point of sustainable growth: a way forward for the economic discipline
The new millennium began facing three transitions: a hegemonic transition, an ecological transition and an economi...
July 23, 2024
L. Codogno – Italy’s Superbonus 110%: Messing up with demand stimulus and the need to reinvent fiscal policy
Since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008-2009, there has been flourishing literature on the role of fiscal policy in st...
July 15, 2024
A. Arrighetti, S. de Nardis, F. Traù: Il falso mito della manifattura inefficiente
The paper is aimed at providing an explanation of the functioning of the Italian industrial system, as well as of its pe...
July 8, 2024
V. Meliciani, G. Terzo – Public welfare spending and regional well-being: an empirical analysis of Italy
In this paper, we investigate the relationship between public welfare spending and well-being, focusing on Italian NUTS-...
July 4, 2024
L. Vinhas de Souza: Caught in the Middle? China and the “Middle Income Trap”
This paper looks at the concept of a “middle income trap” and its validity for China. It finds that the fundamental ...
July 2, 2024
F. Bulfone, D. Di Carlo, F. Bontadini, V. Meliciani – Adjusting to new geopolitical realities: semiconductors industrial policy in the US and EU
After analysing strengths and weaknesses in the United States and European Union’s digital value chains, this paper co...
June 5, 2024
Monthly Briefs
Monthly Brief on the Italian Political Economy – April 2024
LAST MONTH IN BRIEF 09/04 The Ministry for Enterprises and Made in Italy organises the first technical meeting between I...
May 10, 2024
LUHNIP Monthly brief on EU Industrial Policy – March 2024
Last Month in Brief 4 March: European ministers for Environment and Energy meet in Brussels for the Transport, Telecommu...
April 23, 2024
Monthly Brief on the Italian Political Economy – March 2024
LAST MONTH IN BRIEF 05/03 — The Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) releases the national accounts da...
April 17, 2024
LUHNIP Monthly brief on EU Industrial Policy – February 2024
Last Month in Brief 1 February: The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reach a provisional agreement on the S...
March 19, 2024
Monthly Brief on the Italian Political Economy – February 2024
LAST MONTH IN BRIEF 01/02 The Minister for Regional Affairs’ Decree establishes January and February as the transition...
March 8, 2024
LUHNIP Monthly brief on EU Industrial Policy – January 2024
LAST MONTH IN BRIEF 1 January: beginning of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 8 January: the European Comm...
February 19, 2024
Monthly Brief on the Italian Political Economy – January 2024
LAST MONTH IN BRIEF 10/1 The Italian Communications Authority (AGCOM) approves new, more stringent rules for social medi...
February 9, 2024
LUHNIP Monthly Brief on EU Industrial Policy – December 2023
5-6 December: EU-China Summit in Beijing 8 December: The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reach a poli...
January 16, 2024
Monthly Brief on the Italian Economy – December 2023
05/12 The parties of the governing majority reject, with a vote in Parliament, the opposition’s proposal to introduce ...
January 11, 2024
Five Bullets
M. Messori: Loans or “gifts”? What the Italian economy needs from Europe
According to the recent Economic and Financial Document (DEF) drafted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), in 2...
April 28, 2020
C. Bastasin: The rationale behind the Italian-German rift
• Acrimony among European states is harsher today than during the euro-crisis a decade ago, jeopardizing the integrity...
March 31, 2020
C. Bastasin: The EU budget’s bad start concerns the euro area as well
• February’s special Council meeting on the 2021-2027 EU budget ended without an agreement. When EU leaders left...
February 28, 2020
C. Bastasin: A Unique Opportunity for New Ideas on EU Fiscal Rules
• On February 5, the European Commission presented the outlines of its review of the euro-area’s fiscal rules. A sim...
February 7, 2020
C. Bastasin: Italy’s debt causes resistance to new “green” fiscal flexibility
• Brussels is about to start a debate on waivers for green investments from the EU’s budget-deficit rules. However, ...
February 5, 2020
C. Bastasin: ON THE EU COMMISSION’S HARD-NOSED LETTER TO ITALY
• In a strongly worded letter, EU Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis and Pierre Moscovici have accused Italy of planning...
October 22, 2018
C. Bastasin: ITALY’S IS NOT A POPULIST GOVERNMENT
● Italy’s government is not just another populist government, more or less similar to the Greek, the British or even...
October 1, 2018
C. Bastasin: Regarding the Letter of the Eight Finance Ministers
● European ministers of finance discussed the future of the EMU on several occasions over the last couple of months. U...
March 13, 2018
M. Messori: ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM DEUTSCHE BANK
DEUTSCHE BANK’S DIFFICULTIES, which exploded due to a multi-billion dollar fine required by the U.S. Department of Jus...
October 4, 2016
Europe: Facts & Docs
This section contains policy documents, meeting summaries and news that come directly from the EU institutions.
The Recovery and Resilience Facility continues to deliver, Commission third annual report shows – October 10, 2024
Get all the info...
October 10, 2024
Escaping stagnation: towards a stronger euro area – Speech by Isabel Schnabel, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB – October 2, 2024
Read the transcript...
October 7, 2024
Hearing of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament – Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB – September 30, 2024
Transcript Watch the hearing...
September 30, 2024
Setbacks and strides forward: structural shifts and monetary policy in the twenties – Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB – September 20, 2024
Read the transcript...
September 23, 2024
ECB Press Conference – September 12, 2024 – 2:45pm
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September 12, 2024
Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Mario Draghi on the report on the future of EU competitiveness – September 9, 2024
Read the statement...
September 10, 2024
Interview with Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB – Le Monde – September 4, 2024
Read the transcript...
September 5, 2024
The effectiveness and transmission of monetary policy in the euro area – Contribution by Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB – August 24, 2024
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August 28, 2024
Rule of Law Report 2024: with the 5th edition, the EU is better equipped to face rule of law challenges – July 24, 2024
Read the press release...
July 25, 2024
Newsletter
LEAP sends out monthly newsletters containing fellowship opportunities, application calls, updates, and news.