Insights

Scholars and experts from different fields of competence seem to be increasingly engaged in reflections and debates around the complex interrelationships between the built environment, nature and economic activities.

A relevant portion of these reflections and debates appears to be gravitating around the problematic evolution of our cities and the related urgency of new lifestyles that may favor better forms of reconciliation between eco-friendly practices and pro-productivity behaviors.

By embracing an economic development perspective, it could not appear unreasonable to think that cultural and creative aspects may play a significant role for the emergence of these new lifestyles.

For this reason and because of my interest in economic lines of reasoning that tend to suggest the possibility that culture, art and creativity can help communities grow and improve their own economies, it arrived to me almost spontaneously this idea: to reflect more extensively on that possibility by doing a quick interview to a scholar whose area of expertise is not economics but that branch of philosophy that explores possible ways of thinking about the nature, meaning, and value of art.

As summertime continues to unfold it becomes more and more noticeable that many people, during this season, are especially inclined to exchange some income-earning work time for more free time.

This phenomenon or type of choice may invite to organize a related short reflection on the basis on two fundamental concepts in the realms of economics and business: opportunity cost and business competition.

During one of my recent work-related travels, I had the pleasure of once again being in the amazing city of New York.

This bustling metropolis has a unique ability to ignite inspiration and stimulate contemplation in various directions.

Perhaps because of this, while I was taking a walk around its vibrant streets, it resurfaced to my mind an article that I was fortunate enough to co-author together with Luca Sanna – a talented engineer based in the beautiful Italian region of Sardinia.

The article – published in Italian under a title that in English can sound as “How cities should be redesigned after the pandemic”*** – was in large part an attempt to explore the future of urban landscapes by combining two main ways of thinking.

Today here in the U.S. is Independence Day, a national holiday that each year – on the Fourth of July – makes it possible to commemorate the ratification of the Declaration of Independence that happened on July 4 1776.

The Declaration of Independence may be viewed as a fundamental and innovative document in human history. Not only because this document is strongly linked to the establishment of the United States of America, but also because it is a beautiful and powerful expression of many important thoughts. For example, those thoughts that are reflected in the idea that humans are created equal and with unalienable rights like to those of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It may not be an exaggeration to add that by cultivating ideas like this one the U.S. have always been able to emerge as a vigorous and vibrant democracy as well as a place extremely open to the marvels of human creativity, collaboration and technological progress.

Considering these aspects and the work of mine and Limestone Economics in the area of international business development, I thought to celebrate this year’s Independence Day by trying something new for me: rely on one of the most recent fruits of human creativity, collaboration and technological progress – the so-called artificial intelligence – in order to organize and share a quick interview.

A stimulating study from RentCafe recently analyzed many cities in relation to the notion of minimalism.

The study can be thought as organized in two major parts.

The first one may appear largely instrumental to recall possible ways to think about minimalism.

The second part may be viewed as the product of a line of reasoning that gradually translates into a ranking of U.S. cities with over 200,000 residents: from the city that is considered to be the most compatible with idea of minimalism, to the one that is seen as the less aligned with this idea.

On this basis, the study helps us to bring to memory that people frequently use the concept of minimalism in order to refer to:

· various forms of human creativity like architecture, interior design and art;

· a growing social trend that reflects individual preferences for situations characterized by a mix of quality characteristics like beauty, functionality, simplicity and frugality.

By extending these ideas, the study also invites us to take into account other interesting elements.

Se è vero che gli insegnamenti di base dei genitori occupano un posto di prima grandezza nella memoria dei figli, per quanto mi riguarda può rientrare tra questo tipo di insegnamenti quello di coltivare sempre l’amore per la terra in cui sono cresciuto, la Sardegna.

Ripensando in questi giorni – forse più intensamente del solito – a cose come queste, mi sono imbattuto in un articolo scritto anni fa da mio padre a proposito del fragile sviluppo economico di una parte dell’economia sarda che viene solitamente associata a rilevanti tradizioni e aspetti culturali: e cioè il settore agro-pastorale.

Pubblicato con il titolo “Pastoralismo e questione sarda. Considerazioni sui vincoli all’evoluzione economica”*, l’articolo in cui mi sono imbattuto propone un nuovo approccio al problema della persistente fragilità economica del comparto agro-pastorale sardo, e offre alcune idee orientate alla possibilità di un allineamento di questo comparto – e più in generale della Sardegna – verso modelli di sviluppo economico più competitivi e inclusivi di quello sinora emerso.

The spread of the Covid-19 and its extremely high costs – both with the loss of human lives and many slowdowns in various sectors of the global economy – has created unthinkable changes to our lifestyle and to the way we look at the surrounding reality.

This reality, in many parts of the world, is largely influenced by the quality of the links that shape the interaction between built environments, nature and economic relationships.

In addition to this, the inability to optimally manage undesirable effects of many economic activities seems more and at the origin of a series of environmental challenges (for example, air pollution, water quality, climate change).

In this context the future of our cities may appear largely uncertain, as many urban areas may be perceived as being increasingly unable to act as a safe and comfortable shelter in the event of natural events – like earthquakes, tsunamis, epidemics – which are still largely unpredictable, despite the progress of modern science.

IALC Serramenti ( https://www.ialc.it/en/ ) blends quality, innovation and technology into avant-garde metal envelope systems that are designed and manufactured for projects ranging from luxury residential homes to multi story curtain walls. Based in Romano d’Ezzelino – less than fifty miles away from Venice, Italy – this Italian manufacturer has more than 50 years history of forward-looking thought and design for the fabrication of top-class metal windows and curtain walls.

L’articolo che segue, il cui titolo viene sopra ricordato, è la versione italiana del primo e unico articolo che ho avuto l’onore e la fortuna di scrivere e pubblicare con mio padre, Vittorio Bona.

Concepito con lui inizialmente in inglese, l’articolo ha avuto una pubblicazione integrale su questo blog¹ e successivamente una pubblicazione più sintetica apparsa – all’inizio di quest’anno – sulle pagine del News Sun², quotidiano americano stampato nello Stato dell’Indiana. Ne avevamo fatto anche la seguente versione in italiano, per renderlo fruibile anche in questa lingua.

Terno Scorrevoli (https://www.ternoscorrevoli.com/en ) has been manufacturing sliding systems for interior doors, cabinets, and glass structures since 1950. Headquartered close to Milan, Italy, the company crafts their unique sliding systems in a wide array of finishes and materials, each with innovative features that help create custom interior design solutions. Innovation is a central pillar of Terno Scorrevoli’s business culture, as demonstrated by the many patented products that the company offers.

La Fondazione Economia Tor Vergata (FUET) – nell’ultimo incontro del suo Gruppo dei 20 “Revitalizing Anaemic Europe” – ha reso possibile estendere la riflessione sull’economia italiana e sul Piano nazionale di ripresa e resilienza (PNRR), alla luce delle piu’ recenti misure che l’Unione Europea ha previsto – col Next Gereation EU – a sostegno della ripresa economica dei Paesi paesi membri.