RISULTATI RICERCA

Oil price shocks and economy: an open question, by Gianni Di Marzio During the 1970s and 1980s advanced oil importing economies faced the adverse effects of oil supply disruptions with abrupt energy price rise, followed by sensible business cycle inversions and stagflation. The negative effects of the sharp energy price increase were amplified by factors such the induced costly resources reallocation between labour and capital, and between sectors of activity; rising uncertainty discouraging investments, and income redistribution consequences on aggregate demand. After a shock the economic system generally adjusts in favour of less energy intensive industries; this leads pauses in production as part of the existing capital stock become obsolete, and causes resources underutilization. Since the 1970s a number of economists have been sceptical about why even large price shocks in a resource that accounts for less than 3-4 pct. of global GDP could cause losses of magnitude as those experienced in most advanced economies. They believe that monetary policy has played a role in generating the observed negative correlation between oil prices and economic activity, and question whether the post-oil-shock recessions were attributable to the oil price shocks themselves or to the monetary policy responding to these shocks. Empirical research largely shows a primary responsibility of large price shocks and major oil-supply disruptions on recessionary movements of GDP. Energy prices have risen sharply since 2003, driven by strengthening global demand; market fundamentals suggest that a considerable fraction of recent hikes will be permanent and current price levels remain credible. With limited spare capacity, the medium term oil supply-demand balance is expected to remain tight, and the price probably near current levels. Today’s high oil prices reflect the effects of sustained energy demand trends and, jointly, oil industry underinvestment during and after the low price era of the 1990s. The apparent moderate macroeconomic effects of the rise almost certainly reflects the strong global economic environment in which it occurs; the main factor mitigating adverse effects has been the sustained and autonomous expansion of the global economy. Large oil price fluctuations produce now smaller effects than in the previous decades; although oil price shocks have continued to occur, there have been no major episodes of stagflation since the 1970s. Estimates confirm smaller effects of the current price shock after taking into account the global decline in oil intensity of GDP and a better monetary policy management. Advanced consuming economies have become better adapted to deal with oil price increases and volatility; institutional characteristics of economic systems show simply less rigidities and regulations; the extent of inflation pass through from terms-of-trade shocks has declined in recent years as labour markets have become more flexible; energy-intensive manufacturing industries contribute less than before to real GDP formation. All these elements allow for faster adjustment processes. Since 2002 global macroeconomic conditions have been more favourable than in any previous period, with a primary role developed by monetary policy, whose moderate stance has been allowing for international real interest rates historically low, so sustaining global output growth and demand pressure on oil prices. But the experience subsequent the 1990s does not provide reasons for dismissing the risk that persistent oil price increases will pass through into core inflation, so pushing monetary conditions to change.

Italian water service’s competitive tendering: does any tender design exist? (by Barbara Antonioli) - ABSTRACT: During the last two decades, the procurement of public services has been engaged in a process of intensive change, both at the local and national level, particularly in Europe. In Italy, recent developments of legislative framework are aimed to adopt competitive tenders both for service’s concession or private partner selection. Economists and operators generally agree about the effectiveness of auctions for the concession’s contracting out. Otherwise, the agreement is weaker if the question is how to prepare the auction: bidding market à la Demsetz, beauty contests or hybrid forms? In other words, more attention should be devoted to the analysis of reference market and to auction’s design. The aim of this paper is to verify, starting from the analysis of auction realized between 1998 and 2005, the real designing of the auctions other than the presence of an idea of industrial policy for water services. Results highlights that tenders are few, poorly designed and scarcely effectives. To be more precise, results remark the lack of foresight of industrial policy and, more generally, the necessity to reflect on the real possibility of the competition for the market in the water sector, characterized by an high degree of economical and social complexity. JEL classification: K0, L1, L5, L9

The promotion of energy efficiency in Italy (by Luigi De Paoli e Luca Bongiolatti) - ABSTRACT: In 2004 Italy introduced an obligation for electricity and gas distribution companies to reach specific objectives regarding the improvement of energy efficiency in final energy consumption. The scope of the provision is to promote investments in energy efficiency in order to meet the greenhouse gases reduction target set by the Kyoto protocol. The adoption of binding targets of energy efficiency will also lead to the development of an energy services market, modifying the traditional relation between energy dealers and final consumers, thus leading to a more efficient use of the available resources. Similar mechanisms have already been applied in other European countries (as France and United Kingdom) and will be likely introduced in other countries with the implementation of European Directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services. This paper describes and analyzes both the measures adopted in Italy and the results obtained after the first year of operation of the mechanism. The paper is divided in six different sections. In the first part we highlight the main problems related to the development of system based on tradable white certificates. In the second part we provide a brief description of the Italian regulatory context. In the third part there is an economic analysis of investments in energy efficiency. The fourth part considers the different options that distribution companies face in order to reach the energy efficiency targets. The fifth part shows the results obtained after the first year of operation of the mechanism. Finally, we propose some possible modifications to the scheme adopted in Italy considering the results obtained and the alternative solutions already applied in France and United Kingdom. JEL classification: Q400, Q480

In this work the authors describe a clinical case, conducted in co-therapy, which is highlighted a particular configuration relational: Emotional Tetrad In the co-therapy of couple there is the risk to incur in this relational configuration, especially if the co-therapists share with the couple common aspects of life. Within the therapeutic relationship, particular attention is put on the emotional resonance of the co-therapists used as resources to overcome the therapeutic impasse. Key words: emotional tetrad, emotional resonance, bridge-communicative, cotherapy, therapeutic impasse

In this artiche, the Authors propose a multidimensional work way, using trainees’s manifold experiences in Palermo’s Italian Institute of Relational Psychotherapy. The matter is the importance of individual mith inside his/her more meaning relationships: family and group. In the growth way of trainees towards become therapists, the Authors look at their experiences in the training minding the myth as stories generator. All that allows a deliberation about building process of new possibilities of Self use as therapy resource, both individually and in trainees group. Key words: training, therapist’s personal resources, individual myths, goup myths

The authors explain the style of C.A. Whitaker by the presentation of a session of psychotherapy. His way of making psychotherapeutic interventions is always a creative way. He gets directly to the family using an indirect, metaphorical, allusive, humoristic language. He disrupts the family ad patients mind fixity and offers new opportunity for change. In the psychotherapy room we see unpredictable and unusual events. The relatively unexpected future and the high grade of freedom in the family should be considered the normality. In this sample also the play during the session in very important and useful for didactics. Key words: metaphor, play, symbolic, absurd, craziness.

The development of the mirror neuron concept became central to the debate on intersubjectivity. The discovery of the neurophysiological mechanisms that permit the representation of an action or an observed emotion within the same (and in surrounding) structures that actually produce the same action or emotion helps to explain how we understand behaviour. Understanding is preconscious and physically inbuilt. With our organism, we feel the pragmatic meaning of what the other person accomplishes and his/her emotional states. Everything that composes the other’s action is in a set of postural attitudes that are implicitly understood and shared, or better, endorsed. Seeking out the neurophysiological correlates of empathy is basic to the reciprocal intertwining between phenomenological observation and empirical data. Imitation leads to recruitment of neurons nearby to those that accomplish an action and this allows an action to occur. The subsequent step is applied understanding of how an action is performed and further refines (fine tunes) imitation and subsequent actions and emotions. By performing an action, one understands another’s emotional state when performing the same action, comprising the emotions, thoughts and beliefs connected to it; this allows an individual to theorise what another person is thinking by mirroring barely perceptible motor correlates of his/her behaviour. This allows the formation of a theory of mind, which could lead to empathy if paralleled by a sympathetic attitude. People affected by autism have deficits in both their mirror neuron system function and in their ability to form a theory of the other’s mind. Empathy is crucial for all psychotherapeutic processes, independently from their theoretical frame. Key words: Mirror neurons, empathy, theory of the mind, phenomenology, motor system, emotional correlates of action, intersubjectivity, modeling

The psychotherapist works is mixture of factors: individual stories, self inclination, ability of accompany the patient to help him for bear the pain of change. Besides it’s must prepare himself to accept the failures without depress and on the other hand to become excited for success. The authors gives the cue from their experience in order to handle this subject proposing a series of notes that all psychotherapists especiall the students in training have in mind. Key words: psychotherapist, training

In this article, using methaphoric language of fairy tales, some problematic knots, characterizing important steps of the relational therapist training, are identified and discussed: the family mandate, the systemic thought, the objectivity in brackets, the personal training, the request reconversion, the therapeutic act, the emotional education, resonance and syntony. In order to follow Calvino’s directions, a very important italian expert of fairy tales, some basic precepts about therapeutic and training way are pointed out. Keys word: training ways, therapist’ growth, therapeutic ways

The Systemic Professional Syndrome is described, in which the therapist begins the therapeutic process with great determination and directivity, but after a few session a model of behavior takes place that tends to be not lses passive than the psychoanalitic one, while a strong involvement with the family and its members gradually develops. Some suggestion are given to survive to this extreme involvement that families are able to produce, and that can put a systemic therapist at risk of burnout. A number of different approaches that could increase the family participation to the different therapeutic phases and diminuish the pressure placed on the therapist to induce a dramatic and immediate therapeutic change are presented. The principles and the techniques of therapeutic non-therapy will be illustrated Key words: systemic therapist, family therapy, burnout, therapeutic non-therapy