Art, Finance and the Third Sector.

AbstractStarting from the review of a recent book by E.F.M. Emanuele, this paper aims at opening a wider debate on the state of the Italian cultural heritage in the turmoil of the European financial crisis. The discourse starts with a few significant figures that show the state of abandonment of a large portion of Italian most valuable historic and architectural resources. It then continues analyzing the traditional flaws of the Italian cultural system (endemic lack of public incentives, inadequate fiscal regime, the misuse of public services as a means for only providing employment, lack of meritocracy..etc ) and it concludes suggesting a few innovative solutions, through the application of economic strategies to the managing of works of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]