The aim of the paper is a deep assessment of both the dynamic and continuous features of the Italian manufacturing system in the last decade. It underlines the set of peculiarities on aggregate and heterogeneities within single items as well. Starting with the analysis of aggregate official statistics, comparable at the European level, the study continues through the use of an integrated wide set of firms’ micro-data in order to provide both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal analysis of the structural dynamics and heterogeneity of the manufacturing system. Particular attention is given on the analysis of the efficiency, focusing on its role in determining the dynamics of the firms. Finally, with regards to the exporters, the paper analyses the factors affecting the export performance during the crisis (2008-2009) and in the subsequent recovery phase.
Keywords: Productivity, technical efficiency, exporting firms

Roberto Monducci, Paola Anitori, Filippo Oropallo, Carmela Pascucci, Crisis and recovery of the italian manufacturing industry: aggregate trends and firm's heterogeneity in "ECONOMIA E POLITICA INDUSTRIALE " 3/2010, pp. 93-116, DOI:10.3280/POLI2010-003005