GENERAL REPORT ON THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC SITUATION

Before 30 March of each year, the Minister of Economics and Finance introduces to Parliament a general report on the country's economic situation. This report, as compared to the forecast/programmatic report, illustrates the state of the Italian economy (with substantial statistical annexes) from the strictly economic point of view. It is divided into three parts. The first part shows the evolution of the Italian economy as compared to the international economy and is broken down into three sections:

- the creation of gross national product, the distribution of income (including by the Administration) and the use of resources;

- the public finance of the State, the Regions, the provinces and municipalities, the State monopolies and a number of public bodies (with data primarily focused on cash management, with reference to analysis of collections and payments, for which purpose tables are provided that compare the current situation to that of preceding periods);

- labour and social protection, with data on employment, social security and health-care.

The general report does not present intentions (as does The Forecast and Planning Report ), nor does it contain decisions (as does the Budget), but is limited to offering a framework that should be the reference framework for governance of the economy and of the economic situation.