Le grandi imprese nel sistema produttivo italiano

- Based on the analysis of the R&S-Mediobanca survey on multinationals, in 2006 the 17 Italians were small, but not "midgets", as a result of domestic and mostly transnational M&As. In the last ten years, their economic performance and financial structure have been always very sound and in line with the other multinationals. Their labour productivity has been lower than the average, but has improved since 1997. Italian manufacturing multinationals, however, show lower ratios than those of the utilities sector. Given the dire economic outlook worldwide, the Author believes that multinationals, Government and Unions in Italy should provide social support, mostly at labour level, and implement measures aimed at increasing size and productivity, fostering globalisation, and improving corporate governance. Keywords: multinationals, size, ratios, manufacturing companies, utilities, crisis, outlook, social support, corporate governance Parole chiave: multinazionali, dimensione, indicatori, manifatturiere, servizi, crisi, previsioni, ammortizzatori sociali, corporate governance Jel Classification: L25