Abstract

The paper deals with the shortcomings of the Italian institutional set-up as far as air transport policy - especially airport policy - are concerned. The Italian policy is characterized by loose allocation of the roles to be played by the State and the market. In spite of the avowed designs to speed up the liberalization and privatization processes, the Italian Governments' policy keeps being featured by a mix of ubiquity and ineffectiveness, which are mainspring for the sector backwardness and scant competitiveness. After outlining the above aspects, the paper focuses on the lack of a coherent industrial policy for the sector - vis-à-vis continuous intrusions in companies' management - and of an effective regulatory framework.