II‑ The Economic Context
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•Government controls 50% of output, largest of any western nation
•Public sector jobs virtually all distributed on basis of party patronage
•Government spending
•Gender Equality
•Child Poverty
Government controls 50% of output, largest of any western nation
   including steel, banking, telecommunications and energy
   Series of privatizations since 1992 have reduced this
   Since 1992 Italy has had more privatization of public enterprises than any country in the EU

Government spending
   2003 Third highest in course at 48% GDP.  This is down considerably since 1993
   2003 tax revenue also third highest in course at about 44% GDP

Gender Equality – 2004 index
   Italy the least equal in the course (and nowhere even close to France, the second least equal)

Child Poverty – 2003
   Worst rate in course at about 16%
   Still well below US rate of about 22%