21/1/2011 00:00:00
By its publication “Noi Italia” (We Italy) Istat provides an overview of the various economic, social, demographic and environmental characteristics of our country, its place in the European context and the regional differences that characterize it. Italy is among the most densely populated countries of the Union and the fourth country by population size. Among the data collected, stand out negatively those related to education and culture: the impact on GDP of the expenditure in education and training is 4.6% (2008), which is below the EU27 (5.2%); approximately 46% of the population aged between 25 and 64 have achieved as higher educational qualifications only the middle school license; the share of young (18-24 age group) with at most lower secondary school, which has abandoned education without achieving a higher qualification, is 19.2%; young Neets, Not in Education, Employment or Training, are little more than two million, 21.2% between the 15-29-year (year 2009), the highest proportion in Europe. Italian families devote to cultural consumption (expenditure on recreation and culture) on average 6.8% of total expenditure on final consumption (year 2008). The share has decreased slightly over the previous year, when Italy stood at fifth from last place in the EU27. The overall picture of public health is also not rosy: the Italian public health expenditure is much lower than other major countries of Europe such as France and Germany, health costs for families representing 1.9% of national GDP amounting to 1178 € per family (2008). A reverse situation as for security – where Italy is below the EU average with regard to murders – and business, where nearly 66 enterprises per thousand inhabitants represent a value among the highest in Europe, reflecting in particular the prevalence of small firms (year 2008) and the rate is almost three times the European average. With regard to per capita consumption of electricity, Italy compared to the other European countries of larger size, shows among the lowest levels.
