Press Review #SoseXpress 24-30 April 2021

Our commitment to the current debate on developing a human-centric approach to digitalization will enable us to achieve an inclusive and thriving global digital society. 

Vittorio Colao, Minister for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition spoke at the UN debate on digital cooperation and connectivity. 

 The debate of ideas 

 

Researchers' commitment to climate change 

In 2020, global carbon dioxide emissions decreased compared to 2019. This unprecedented decline is undoubtedly related to the pandemic that has slowed down many human activities emitting CO2 into the atmosphere. The world economy has suffered the severe consequences of the pandemic, but the environment, on the contrary, has benefited from it. Anyway, to stem the most severe effects of climate change, we need something else, an immediate change of course, based on strong actions to reduce emissions and increase spending on renewable energy in the next ten years. Here for further information. 

 

Local public transport: a lever for recovery 

Local public transport is an essential driver for the growth and competitiveness of territories. The recovery from the crisis will need a more sustainable, more flexible, and more integrated system. An efficient mobility system allows citizens to move quickly and easily, providing more choices on where to reside, consume and work. The reopening of economic and social activities during the pandemic reignited the debate on this issue, confirming the centrality of local public transport in our cities. Here to learn more. 

 

Studies, research and numbers 

 

Covid impact on the 2020 financial statements of industrial and service companies 

The Mediobanca Research Department analysed the Covid-19 impact on the 2020 annual financial statements of 27 industrial and service companies constituting the FTSE MIB index. Compared to 2019, the companies lost revenues for over 75 billion Euro (-18.6%). Manufacturing recorded the smallest decline (-14.3%), followed by services (-14.7%) and energy/utilities (-15.6%), while oil, with Eni (-37.1%), recorded the most significant losses in turnover. Here to learn more. 

 

Clean energy, Italy ranks fourth for the number of patents 

Low-carbon energy technology patents grew by 3.3% annually between 2017 and 2019. In this process, Italy is the 4th European player and the 9th worldwide for clean energy patents. Our country's specializations are in solar thermal, geothermal, combustion, construction, and rail transport. The European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) revealed these results in the study "Patents and Energy Transition" concerning clean energy and the fight against climate change. Here for further information. 

 

Istat: the consumer and business confidence increased in April 

In April 2021, the consumer confidence index increased from 100.9 to 102.3, involving all its components. Istat recorded an increase also in the composite business confidence climate index (from 94.2 to 97.3). The economic and personal climate rose, respectively, from 90.2 to 91.6 and from 104.5 to 105.9. The current climate increased from 96.7 to 97.4, and the future one rose from 107.1 to 109.6, recording the most marked increase. As for businesses, an improvement in confidence spread across all sectors. Here the note by ISTAT. 

 

Istat: non-EU exports increased by 2.5% in March (+ 23% y/y) 

After the slight decline in February, exports recorded a new economic upturn in March, thanks to increased energy sales. In March 2021, Istat recorded an increase in foreign trade with non-EU27 countries, more significant for imports (+6.8%) than exports (+2.5%). The growth in exports is widespread towards all major non-EU trading partners; The increase in sales to China is clearly above average. Here to learn more. 

 

Istat, the second pandemic wave worsened the assessment of the economic situation 

More than 3 out of 4 citizens described the family climate with positive words during the second epidemic wave; only 8.4% chose negative terms. In the Report "Comportamenti e opinioni dei cittadini durante la seconda ondata pandemica - Citizens' behaviours and opinions during the second pandemic wave (12 December - 15 January 2021)", Istat highlighted that one-fifth of the population (22.2%) had difficulties to pay their expenses (mortgage, bills, rent, meal expenses, etc.). 50.5% believe that the country's economic situation will worsen. Here the note by ISTAT. 

 

Eurostat: How has the COVID-19 crisis hit the EU labour market? 

In the EU, the employment rate of people aged 20-64 was 72.6% in the fourth quarter of 2020, still below pre-COVID-19 levels (73.2% in the fourth quarter of 2019) but above the level recorded in the second quarter of 2020 (71.7%), the first quarter affected by COVID-19. Eurostat published these data on the labour market in the fourth quarter of 2020. The crisis has affected the employment rate and the expectations of jobless people, their willingness to work, and their ability to look for a job. Here for further information. 

 

Istat, collective agreements and contractual wages January-March 2021 

In the first quarter of 2021, the contractual activity shows significant signs of recovery, with eight contracts ratified over the first quarter of 2021: ceramics, maritime transport, telecommunications, newspaper publishing, industrial laundry, tanning, editorial graphics and port services. The average hourly wage, compared to the first quarter of 2020, grew by 0.7%. The hourly contractual wages index is unchanged compared to February 2021 and increased by 0.6% compared to March 2020. Here the Note by Istat. 

 

Inps, monitoring of retirement flows in 2020 and first quarter of 2021

According to INPS, 844,879 workers received a pension with effect from 2020, with an average monthly amount of 1,249 euro. From January to March 2021, they were 188,840 in total, for an average monthly amount of 1,190 euro. These values refer to old-age pensions - including early retirement allowances for the employee pension fund (Italian acronym FPLD) and social allowances - to early retirement allowances, invalidity, and survivors' pensions. Here the Press Releases section by INPS. 

 

ECB, the euro area risks a wave of corporate insolvencies 

A wave of corporate insolvencies due to the Covid pandemic could impact the euro area unless governments provide "greater support" for their solvency. The European Systemic Risk Board, the committee that reports to the ECB, launched this warning. "More than a year of restrictions on economic activities have not led to financial instability so far," but "the threat of a wave of insolvencies is great," the committee wrote in a report. Here to learn more.

 

In Italy, the highest labour costs among OECD countries 

According to the new "Taxing Wages" report by OECD, taxes on wages in Italy are decreasing, but are still too high among OECD countries: between 2019 and 2020, the tax wedge fell from 47.9% to 46 %, standing at 11.4 points above the OECD average, which is 34.6% (from 35% in 2019). A share that places our country in fourth place in the area, behind Belgium, Germany, and Austria, on a par with France. Here to learn more. 

 

EU: The economic sentiment improved to 110.3 points in April

In April 2021, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) continued its strong recovery, gaining 9.8 (EU) / 9.4 (EA) points compared to March. With 109.7 (EU) / 110.3 (EA) points, the ESI score is markedly above the long-term average and pre-pandemic level for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19. The Employment Expectations Indicator (EEI) also recorded a sharp rise which took the indicator above the long-term average and pre-pandemic level. Here for more information. 

 

Istat: industrial producer prices continue to rise in March 

In March, the industrial producer prices increased by 0.9% on a monthly basis and 2.7% on an annual basis (compared to 0.7% in February). On the domestic market, industrial producer prices increased by 1.0% compared to February and by 3.0% on an annual basis. On the non-domestic market, prices increased by 0.6% on a monthly basis (+ 0.6% in the euro area, + 0.5% in the non-euro area). According to Istat, the recovery started in February is confirmed on an annual basis, thanks to the positive trends of energy and intermediate goods. Here the Note by Istat.

 

CIA-FAO: Small farms produce one-third of the world's food   

608 million farms occupy 70% of land and produce 80% of the food. A study published in the World Development magazine by FAO and reported by CIA (Italian Farmers Confederation) highlighted these results. Globally, small farms produce about one-third of the world's food, i.e., 5 out of 6 farms with less than two hectares of extension, operate only about 12% of all agricultural land on the planet and produce roughly 35% of the world's food. Here and here to learn more. 

 

Unioncamere, over 350 thousand entrepreneurs at the digital schools of "Punto Impresa Digitale - PID"  

The pandemic has increased territorial, gender, age, and production gaps, but digital is the lever to reduce them. The use of new technologies limits the differences between small and medium-large companies. Still, only 26% of Italian companies are aware of the 4.0 Business Plan and, among these, 9%, despite knowing it, do not invest. The dossier presented by Unioncamere, during the Assembly of Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce reveals this scenario. Here for more information. 

 

The voice of Stakeholders 

 

Confartigianato:Fiscal policies to get out of a long recession 

The pandemic has impacted on the stability of the entrepreneurial structure. At the same time, the recession is heavily affecting the labour market, including self-employment, which recorded the worst decline in employment since 2005. In the spring of 2021, the Italian economy is still slowed by the contagion from Covid-19, remaining among the countries suffering the heaviest health and economic effects of the pandemic: the analysis by the Confartigianato Research Department proposes an international comparison. Here to learn more. 

 

Confartigianato: The transport sector lost 28.8 billion Euro in revenue in 2020, worse than in the EU 

The transport and logistics system is experiencing severe economic effects generated by the pandemic due to profound changes in the demand and supply of mobility. In 2020, the transport and storage sector turnover in Italy fell by 17.5%, 4.6 points more than the drop recorded in the EU27. The companies recorded a general decrease of 28.8bn Euro in revenues while freight transport suffered an 11.7% decline in manufacturing production and a 10.3% reduction in foreign trade flows.  Confartigianato Trasporti released these data in the 2020 Report on the sector. Here to learn more. 

Innovation 

 

Cloud, in Italy investments in security on the rise: + 11% in 3 months 

In Italy, spending on cloud security solutions grew by 11% in the first quarter of 2021, thus holding the third position in the ranking prepared by Context, France at the top (+ 41%), followed by the United Kingdom (+14 %). Significant investments regard Saas solutions, aiming to protect company and PA employees in remote working and prevent increasingly frequent cyberattacks since the pandemic outbreak. Here for more information. 

 

Digital transformation, 50% of SMEs are betting on marketing automation. 

Italian SMEs aim at the omnichannel strategy, increasing investments in 2021. Companies equipped with automation platforms and, in particular, marketing automation have registered an increase of 10% in turnover. According to the report "Digitalizzazione delle Aziende nel 2021 - Digitization of Companies in 2021" by Innovation People, 50% of small and medium-sized enterprises will invest this year in automated marketing platforms. Here to learn more. 

 

Data.europa.eu: a single point of access to open data 

The European Union Open Data Portal and the European Data Portal are joining forces to become the single access point to open data from Europe to over 1 million datasets from 6 EU institutions, 79 agencies and bodies, 36 countries, and other international organizations. In addition, it will provide support to EU institutions and Member States to publish data via communities of practice of national open data portals and policy owners. Here and here to learn more. 

Local Authorities 

 

Istat: final balance sheets of Regions and Autonomous Provinces 

Istat released a preliminary estimate of the provisional data collected through a survey on the final balance sheets of regions and autonomous provinces for the year 2019. The data were processed following the classification adopted in the Chart of accounts provided for by Legislative Decree no. 118/2011 and subsequent additions (so-called accounting harmonization). As Istat specifies, the data are provisional. Here the note by ISTAT. 

The world of MEF 

 

Mef: Minister Franco’s statement on the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan 

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Daniele Franco, released a statement on the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan, together with his counterparts from France, Germany, and Spain. Italy's Plan consists of 273 pages, 40 about reforms: PA, taxation, competition, justice, and tenders. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, reiterated "the great opportunity of having extraordinary resources that we cannot waste." Here the Note by MEF. 

 

Mef: "Decreto Sostegni," resources for more than 4 billion euro disbursed by the Revenue Agency

The Revenue Agency paid more than 4 billion Euro of non-repayable grants under the "Decreto Sostegni" to companies and professionals affected by the economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. The additional 372 thousand payment orders signed by the Director of the Revenue Agency, Ernesto Maria Ruffini, together with the resources allocated from 8 April 2021 and the tax credits, will support 1 million and 400 thousand beneficiaries of government’s non-repayable grants. Here for more information.