Other than rain bonuses. To contain inflation, it is better to focus on targeted interventions

The latest study by the Center for economic policy research highlights the regressive effects of the crisis on Italian incomes. The state serves, but it needs to spend well: in 2022 only a tenth of the resources used involved the most effective type of countermeasures

How to stem the effects of inflation? More social bonuses, less vouchers and petrol price stunts. It is the result of the analysis drawn up by the Center for economic policy research (Cepr), taking our country into consideration in 2022. The paper, published this week on Vox Eu, bears the signature of a team of researchers from the Bank of Italy – Nicholas Curci, Marco Savegnago, Giordano Zevi, Roberta Zizza. And it highlights how the various countermeasures applied by the government (more Draghi than Meloni, period under consideration in hand) have had a different and not always efficient impact on household incomes. The starting point is the current exceptional economic situation. In the year just ended, the average increase in inflation in Italy (source: Istat) was 8.1 per cent, with peaks of 11.8 in November: this is the highest figure since 1985.