01701cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF017851 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781484312568 1934-7685 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. European Dept. Italy : Selected Issues. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2017. 1 online resource (80 pages) IMF Staff Country Reports <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This Selected Issues paper analyzes the competitiveness and wage bargaining reform in Italy. The growth of Italian exports has lagged that of euro area peers. Wages are set at the sectoral level and extended nationally. However, they do not respond well to firm-specific productivity, regional disparities, or skill mismatches. Nominally rigid wages have also implied adjustment through lower profits and employment. The analysis also suggests substantial gains from moving from sectoral- to firm-level wage setting of at least 3.5 percentage points, lower unemployment (or higher employment) rate and a notable improvement in Italy's competitiveness over the medium term. Mode of access: Internet IMF Staff Country Reports; Country Report ; No. 2017/238 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2017/238/002.2017.issue-238-en.xml IMF e-Library