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Closing the Italian digital gap: The role of skills, intangibles and policies

Author

Listed:
  • Flavio Calvino

    (OECD)

  • Stefano DeSantis

    (Italian National Institute of Statistics)

  • Isabelle Desnoyers-James

    (OECD)

  • Sara Formai

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Ilaria Goretti

    (OECD)

  • Silvia Lombardi

    (Italian National Institute of Statistics)

  • Francesco Manaresi

    (OECD)

  • Giulio Perani

    (Italian National Institute of Statistics)

Abstract

The study identifies the main factors that affect the diffusion of digital technologies and their returns among Italian firms, highlighting the crucial role of public policies. It uses a unique data infrastructure that integrates information on digital technology adoption, firm performance, and workers’ and managers’ skills. The analysis shows that the low digitalisation of Italian firms, especially of SMEs, can be traced back to the low levels of three factors: i) workers’ skills, ii) management capabilities, and iii) accumulation of intangible assets. These factors are also crucial to maximise the effectiveness of public policies supporting firm digitalisation, such as the deployment of broadband infrastructure and fiscal incentives to investments in digital technologies. Finally, the analysis shows that the COVID-19 crisis contributed to further widening the digital gap between Italian firms, favouring ex-ante more digitalised companies, suggesting that public policies play a crucial role for the post-COVID-19 recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Flavio Calvino & Stefano DeSantis & Isabelle Desnoyers-James & Sara Formai & Ilaria Goretti & Silvia Lombardi & Francesco Manaresi & Giulio Perani, 2022. "Closing the Italian digital gap: The role of skills, intangibles and policies," OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers 126, OECD Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:stiaac:126-en
    DOI: 10.1787/e33c281e-en
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    Cited by:

    1. Serenella Caravella & Valeria Cirillo & Francesco Crespi & Dario Guarascio & Mirko Menghini, 2023. "The diffusion of digital skills across EU regions: structural drivers and polarisation dynamics," Regional Studies, Regional Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 820-844, December.
    2. Cirillo, Valeria & Fanti, Lucrezia & Mina, Andrea & Ricci, Andrea, 2023. "The adoption of digital technologies: Investment, skills, work organisation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 89-105.
    3. Mihails Hazans & Jaan Masso & Per Botolf Maurseth, 2023. "Human values and selection into supervisory positions: Evidence from nine European countries," EGEIWP 01-2023, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza - Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", revised Dec 2023.

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