The deeper issue is that Italy is 20pc over-valued within EMU and is now trapped in very low growth and a stubborn current account deficit. This is a slow rot. It is directly linked to EMU membership.
Italy could have used the decade and half since Euroland’s currencies were locked together after Maastricht to free up labour markets and carry out the `micro’ reforms needed to make EMU viable. It did not do so. It is very late in the day now.
via Italy, EMU and the Evil Eye – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard Telegraph Blogs.