Political Economy Matters.
We show why.
We explore how businesses, communities, and institutions renegotiate the social contract in times of technological and geopolitical transformation.
Anchored in Italy’s industrial districts yet globally comparative, our work bridges academic research and corporate practice: studying how firms’ local embeddedness shapes economic and social outcomes, and convening companies and civic actors as agents of democratic capitalism.
Since 2014, we have treated firms and cities as living case studies. In the years ahead, we aim to build a platform where research, practice, and dialogue shape new institutional forms for resilient and inclusive economies.
Research, on the field
We go on the ground—in factories, districts, and city halls—to study how production systems and communities adapt. We pair qualitative fieldwork with comparative data to generate insights leaders can use.
Networks of excellence
We convene scholars, entrepreneurs, and civic actors into a working network. Through seminars, fellowships, and executive programs, we translate research into choices for boards, mayors, and managers.
Design for impact
We test ideas in practice—from applying regional globalization to the value chain of one of Italy’s bakery icons, to opening up the debate about the destiny of a local community in global terms. Each project targets clear, measurable social and economic outcomes.