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Lessons from the past for 21st century systems of state-owned enterprises: The case of Italy's IRI in the 1930s

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  • Gasperin, Simone

Abstract

This paper analyses the industrial operations performed in the 1930s by Italy's former state-holding company, Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (Institute for the Industrial Reconstruction — IRI). It is argued that in those years IRI represented a policy-oriented system of state-owned enterprises with ‘entrepreneurial’ characteristics: reorganising sectors and industrial productions, diversifying into new activities, investing in underdeveloped areas, promoting technical and managerial training as well as scientific research. IRI's historical model of an entrepreneurial state-holding company could suggest relevant policy lessons for 21st century national systems of state-owned enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Gasperin, Simone, 2022. "Lessons from the past for 21st century systems of state-owned enterprises: The case of Italy's IRI in the 1930s," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 599-612.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:62:y:2022:i:c:p:599-612
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2022.03.010
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industrial policy; Public enterprises; Structural change; Industry analysis; Economic history;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L52 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Industrial Policy; Sectoral Planning Methods
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General
    • L90 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - General
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O25 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Industrial Policy
    • L32 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Enterprises; Public-Private Enterprises
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • N64 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Europe: 1913-
    • N74 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: 1913-

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