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The medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) sector in Italy is a niche sector that is growing in terms of both primary production and consumption. These products seem to be important to address several global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity conservation, drought solutions, product diversification, product innovations, and the development of rural areas (rural tourism in primis). This study utilised the Delphi method to identify key factors and possible strategies that could be adopted for the future (the next 3–5 years) of the national MAP supply chain. The research involved the collaboration of 26 experts. Individual interviews, based on a semi-structured questionnaire, were carried out during the first round of the study. The information and the collected data were then analysed and depicted in a mental map. The Italian MAP sector suffers from competition from lower-cost imported products. Despite this, the experts predicted an expansion of the MAP sector regarding aromatic herbs and certain derivative products, such as dietary supplements, biocides, and essential oils. The experts anticipated the need to increase the adoption of digital innovations, of developing agreements among the actors of the supply chain, and of investing in the training of supply chain actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the relationship between corruption and legislative complexity, their impact on growth rate, and per capita income distribution. An econometric analysis is performed using a new index of legislative complexity, built in a way that makes it internationally comparable. In the dataset, 67 countries are considered, for a period of 21 years from 1995 to 2015. The OLS and 2SLS regressions are provided. The results of the econometric analysis support the hypothesis that legislative complexity is a constraint to growth, and that in countries with a long history of liberal democracy legislative complexity determines an income redistribution to the detriment of the poorer social classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus fruits are among the most important crops for Italy both in terms of production and the area invested but their consumption appears to be slightly down and an in-depth study of their potential in the market becomes necessary in view of a relaunch in commercial terms. The aim of this survey was to investigate the main aspects of consumption, through the analysis of the dynamics related to the process of buying fresh citrus fruits, looking at a sample of consumers from northern Italy and a sample of consumers from southern Italy. In order to comply with the lines of research, the surveys were conducted in two different areas: the first located in northern Italy, particularly in the metropolitan areas of Milan (MI) and Turin (TO), and the second in the Calabria region, in the five different provinces. A total of 846 face-to-face surveys were carried out: 346 units in northern Italy and 500 in southern Italy. Citrus fruits confirm their 'health function' as they are strongly associated with nutritional and health benefits. Oranges and clementines have almost similar levels of appreciation in both areas, even for mandarins there are no particular differences, although perhaps in northern Italy there is a slightly higher appreciation. Among other citrus fruits only lemons show a certain degree of appreciation, while minor citrus fruits such as grapefruits, citrons, bergamots, and limes do not seem to significantly attract the sample considered in any of the areas examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the international scene, the study of commercial competitiveness is an excellent tool in order to gain an understanding of the market behaviour of a given product. This methodology can be implemented on goods with a significant influence on total exports, in addition to others having a lower impact, such as honey, which has interesting production characteristics. This paper aims to study the behaviour of the main competitiveness indices (RXA, RMA and RTA) relating to the European Union honey market, as the UE acts as an important trade hub for primary sector products, with a separate focus on the Italian performance. The results show that the EU is not very competitive in relation to honey exports and is strongly oriented towards imports. The analysis of the disaggregated data, on the other hand, has revealed that the eastern regions of the EU, currently important producers of honey, are the areas with the highest performance and degree of specialisation in honey exports. Italy's behaviour is similar to the rest of the EU, showing a substantial comparative disadvantage in the trade of this product when compared to countries such as Romania or Spain, which produce greater quantities, or Germany, that is highly specialised in trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]