The New Silk Road and the Impact on the Italian Production System

Abstract

The present work analyzes the asymmetric relationship between China and Italy with a specific focus on the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the Italian production system. With this analysis, it comes to light the importance of China as a partner both for the industrial system and for the Italian production system. The analysis of investments flows and trade to and from China in Italy evidence the potential benefits that the development of logistic infrastructure along the BRI, with specific reference to railway and maritime networks, could bring to Europe and Italy, as well as the quality of logistics infrastructure, comparing them also to others European Countries, using the performance index, such as Logistic Performance Index (LPI). In fact, it is evident that reducing transport costs and strengthening the infrastructure systems in several countries that are part of the BRI could gain benefits. However, the issue is to understand and examine if, in an asymmetric structural economic and political situation, the result would be win-win, or instead the advantages would be redistributed unequally.