The stakes are high, with Italy being one of the big three big euro zone members. Debate rages about whether the strictures of euro zone membership or the lack of reform by successive governments are responsible for Italy’s lack of economic progress. If Italy wanted to prosper in the euro zone, much wider reforms of its economy were essential. Equally, the much-discussed inadequacies of the euro zone and its response to the crisis have played their part. Also, remember that the euro zone itself is still an unfinished project in terms of developing into a fully fledged fiscal and banking union.

Source: The Irish Times May 23, 2018 04:51 UTC