The Lombardy region shows a weak economic growth, with moderate projections for the future driven by the Winter Olympics. The global economy has shown resilience despite geopolitical tensions and trade barriers. A 0.5% growth in Lombardy’s GDP is forecast for 2025, with a slight improvement in 2026. The prospects for the industrial sector are uncertain, with weak growth expected in the services sector.
This report highlights the need to improve and combine land use tools for inclusive and effective economic development, considering the implications for equity, and addresses the urgency of viable solutions in a context of housing affordability crisis and changes in federal policies.
In the last four years, China’s foreign direct investment flows to Italy have shifted from an expansive to a more selective phase, focusing on solid and fiscally coherent family structures. Although there was a decline in 2023, the trend reversed in 2024 with an increase in investment in the EU and the UK, keeping Italy as an attractive market, especially in technological and sustainable sectors.
Rises in electricity tariffs due to artificial intelligence data center demand pose challenges for residential consumers, with a 50% increase in residential bills by 2039 and up to a 267% increase in areas near data centers, thus proposing to establish a separate tariff structure for data center users.
The study on gender inequality in wealth in the European Union shows persistent gaps between men and women, with significant disparities between the middle class and the wealthy. Men hold properties, businesses and high-risk financial assets, while women have bank deposits and low-risk assets. Although women have higher academic education, this advantage does not reflect in greater wealth.
