Pallini Limoncello in The German National Television Ard

Since 1875, the Pallini family produces liqueurs and syrups. A storybook family business. Micaela Pallini took over the business from her father in 2001. But things are not becoming easier. While the export business with Limoncello booms, domestic business is inert since years. The family has invested millions of euros in new bottling plants in recent years and would like to see the return now. At the moment, gift packs for the USA are top selling. [Micaela Pallini:] "Sure, we've had quite big problems in the past. The domestic turnover shrunk, but for this we could compensate with export sales. Since one and a half years, however, the domestic market is in a quasi standstill and a big crisis." It is this crisis, which shall be tackeled by means of the billion-euro austerity package adopted by the House of Deputies last friday. Besides cuts in the public sector and pensions, the government Berlusconi wants to increment income. For example, the government expects two-digit billion figures from privatizations. On top of that, consumption taxes shall be augmented. Experts avert that this won't stop the crisis. [Dino Pesole:] "Alltogether, the bundle of measures is defined, but it is hard to say whether it suffices. I've got the impression, that markets do not focus primarily on single measures, but on whether there is trust towards the country and on the credibility of the Italian Government and institutions." And yet before the ballot started inside the Parliament, outside protesters mobilized against the austerity measures. As them, also members of the opposition think, that primarily the ordinary people and families bear the consequences. Potential for austerity exists also... [Laura Garavini] "e.g. in the number of Provinces, since foremost the huge administrative bodies spend many billions, so here one could reduce the number drastically. Also some enormous privilegous could be cut, as far as concerns both politics and the banks. But I want to stress out one point: The economic situation in Italy is problematic, but there is no reason to panic." No Panic: that is also how many Italians think about the crisis. The belt has not really to be tightened yet. People simply do not leave for 4 but just 3 weeks holiday. In the summer clearance sale, many chemises are still in the displays, notwithstanding discounts of up to 50%. Many simply buy less. What do people actually think about the crisis? "The crisis actually hits only the really poor. Well, frankly speaking, I don't see all that crisis." "We have to look to Germany and not always down on the countries that are in still worse conditions than we are." For the entrepreneur Micaela Pallini, the austerity measures are not really helpful. [Micaela Pallini:] "Italy had a dept to GDP ratio of 60% until the 70ies, so everything under control. In the 80ies, than, dept was boosted to over 90%. Now, our generation can pay for the errors of the past." Italies industrials call for real economic reforms, so that Italies companies have a better standing again, and to enable them to provide new jobs. And these are needed urgently.