"Expensive petrol", "expensive bills", "expensive consumption", "expensive trolley", "expensive transport", expensive, expensive and still expensive, everything seems to have become "expensive". If this is not austerity, clearly state what else it could be.

Starting from the year 2020 Italy, but not only Italy, seems to have awakened poorer and, gradually, how gradually, starting from that moment, at least in terms of immediate perception of a suggestive nature, the various measures adopted by successive governments, seem to have changed, in a more or less intense and penetrating way, and radically, the habits of life and the daily life of families in a context, where the energy crisis first of all had the most decisive role.

A difficult winter seems to be approaching, under the banner of an austerity discipline which, beyond anglicism, would seem to mark the near future trend.

Net of the illusions that the country, perhaps, could have nourished before the pandemic period and before the crisis generated by the Russian-Ukrainian war, the economic model that has come to impose itself in the meantime begins to appear not only unsustainable even from an ecological point of view, but even almost paradoxical in its dynamic becoming in decline. At least in terms of immediate perception.

The national situation, as well as the international one from which the first seems inevitably overwhelmed, manifests itself in all its critical nuances as the impoverishment of the purchasing power of the currency seems to act as a counterbalance to the increase in demand for basic necessities and/ or in any case of consumption in general. The prices of petrol, diesel and fuel oil have increased, and still appear to be soaring. 2008 and 2011 seemed like distant memories, but today the difficulties of that period seem to subtly reappear in the contingent context.

When we speak of "austerity" (if it really can be defined as such) in Italy, inevitably, or almost, our thoughts immediately turn to the Monti government and the stringent economic policy measures of the time. Meanwhile, and as usual, the interference of the European institutions seems to be felt in our country in an even more imposing way, since we often hear that excessively restrictive debt containment measures have been imposed on us. Let's be clear: austerity measures are unpleasant to implement since, almost certainly, they are likely to cause anger and discontent in the electorate. The years spent among the opposition benches of the current major majority party are far away, and seem to echo in a nuanced way, which sees its political leader occupying the highest and most important seat, namely that of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The electoral promises would appear to have remained such, frozen in a limbo from which it will be difficult to get out. Probably, with the persistence of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, there will be a further reduction in the purchasing power of the various families who have seen their consumption reduced due to the increase in food prices.

The erosion of individual savings and the progressive cut in current expenditure as a result of the increase in gas and electricity consumption seem to have become the indicators of a "recovery" economy (if it can be defined improperly as such) which would appear to want to introduce an unprecedented "modus vivendi”. But – and the question seems to be a million-dollar question – the effects of such policies will, in the future, hinder the individuals and families most in difficulty, in the context of a recovery scenario when the country, and before Europe, will they resume their growth path?

It is not necessary to bother Lapalisse to understand that the implementation of the present austerity measures favor the concentration of wealth in the hands of the very few already wealthy citizens, resulting in, and not only, a corresponding increase in inequalities between the Member States and within each of them. And likewise, you don't need to be top economics experts to understand that if the current Meloni government does not decide in the sense of putting in place, even against the trend, decisive stimulus policies favoring inclusive growth, so to speak, as well as policies of investment stimulus in the essential services sector, in the fight against real evasion, the evolution of the economic situation can only continue to degrade.

It is said that they want to support Italian families in conditions of greater poverty, but today the wave of the new poor is also affecting all those who in the past years have gone to flesh out the ranks of the small and medium bourgeoisie, and who currently, with huge sacrifices, continue to resist and pay taxes.

What measures does the Meloni Government intend to implement in support of those "virtuous" social classes in terms of taxation, but certainly not "rich", in order to nourish their hopes and encourage them to face such a complex everyday life? Even if it is true, as it would seem to be true, that austerity policies (if such they really are) seem to have affected levels of poverty and inequality to varying degrees, and if it is true, as it would seem to be true, that the progressive impoverishment of families is also determined by inadequate political measures to deal with it, then how will the country ever get out of the condition of galloping economic difficulty? How will it be possible to adopt measures to stimulate growth, support services, active employment policies? How, beyond good intentions, can the Government really guarantee lasting and structural economic growth?

Today is the day of the first Council of Ministers following the summer break which will have as its object the so-called high petrol, but we mean high excise duties. In short, the blanket promises to be short and the time for propaganda appears to be over. Now we are in full response time.

Giuseppina Di Salvatore – Lawyer, Nuoro

© Riproduzione riservata