The Social Consequences of the Crisis
A factor to be taken into consideration in evaluating the social consequences of the financial crisis and subsequent recession is the long-period trend to be seen towards increasing social inequality. In the case of Italy the data reveal symptoms of the social gap appearing even before the recent crisis, but growing inequality is by no means limited to Italy. Indeed, the trends towards inequality have led sociologists to abandon the image of confluence at the centre, putting in its place that of the social gap. The crisis of deregulation brings back to the fore the possibility of considering organic measures to relaunch the economy, and new agreements to promote social cohesion.
La disuguaglianza di reddito in Italia nell'ultimo decennio
Income inequality is in Italy among the highest among rich countries. However, only recently the issue has become a matter of public concern, as journalists, political commentators and research institutions have stressed an ongoing process of impoverishment of Italian households. This conclusion is not confirmed by the results of the most reliable sources: both the Istat's Survey on Household Budgets and the Bank of Italy's Survey of Household Income and Wealth show a surprising stability of the distribution of economic resources (expenditure or income) across households since the mid 1990s, after a sharp widening amid the 1991-92 recession. This evidence does not imply that the distribution did not change at all. First, a significant redistribution took place across socio-economic groups, as incomes increased much less for the households of the employees than for the households of managers and the selfemployed. Second, income mobility rose considerably, generating in many families a sense of insecurity and greater vulnerability to external shocks. These changes have made the flaws of the Italian social safety net even more manifest. Following a lead by Hirschman (1973), the discontent of Italian households shown by several statistical indicators may hence be seen as a signal of a "changing tolerance for income inequality".
SCANNING EUROPEAN ADVANCES IN THE USE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
Recycled materials that have suitable engineering, environmental, and economic properties can be used as substitutes for natural aggregates or materials in the construction of highway infrastructure. These recycled materials are either recovered materials from the transportation sector or secondary or byproduct materials from the industrial, municipal, or mining sectors. Since the 1970s, a number of countries in Europe have been routinely using recycled materials with a high degree of success. The most remarkable thing about the European experience is that the recycling rate of materials in the highway environment frequently reaches 100%. In recognition of recent developments on all levels and the growing interest within the U.S. highway community, a team of U.S. recycling practitioners visited Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden to observe research, policies, and programs promoting the use of recycled materials in the highway environment within those countries. Of particular interest to the scanning team were the economic, engineering, and environmental approaches that enable the high recycling rates and the successes seen in those countries. All of the countries had some sort of sustainability policy in which recycling was an integral part. The U.S. delegation is now working with their respective constituencies to promote recommendations from their summary and final reports. To further promote technology transfer and to start reducing barriers, a demonstration project is planned for the fall of 2000 in Houston, Texas.