This book analyzes the wrapping and packaging machinery sector in the Emilia/Bologna district in Italy and compares the most recent trends with those in the industry in Schwabisch Hall and Waiblingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, which represents a direct rival. In a detailed and original study, the authors trace the evolution of manufacturing in Bologna during a period that witnessed extraordinary growth in automatic wrapping and packaging machines, leading the sector to become a central pillar of Italian mechanical engineering. Similarly, the history of the industry in the Emilia district is described, highlighting the factors that led to its success. A comprehensive comparative analysis of the German and Italian sectors is then performed. Export figures and the trade balance for the sector are examined based on Eurostat data, and the significance of the two districts in terms of global trade is identified with reference to UN data. In addition, the number of companies, sales, and the size of the workforces are thoroughly compared. The book will be of interest to economists and others with an interest in the development and importance of the automatic packaging machinery sector.

This book analyzes Italy's external competitiveness in detail and introduces a new index, devised by Marco Fortis and Stefano Corradini for Fondazione Edison, that highlights the strengths of Italy's foreign trade. Compared with the Trade Performance Index compiled and updated annually by UNCTAD/WTO's International Trade Centre, the Fortis-Corradini Index (FCI) provides greater sectorial detail by referring to 5117 products identified according to the six-digit HS 1996 international classification available on the UN Comtrade database. The new index confirms that, contrary to widespread opinion, Italy is one of the world's most competitive countries, with an extraordinary position of leadership in world trade. Thus, according to the FCI, for 932 products Italy was either first, second or third worldwide in terms of foreign trade surplus in 2012. Furthermore, the FCI reveals, for example, that only three countries (China, Germany and the United States) surpassed Italy in 2012 in terms of the number of first, second and third places in their trade balance worldwide. In presenting the FCI and meticulous statistical data, this highly original study will be of wide interest.