ABSTRACT
The industrial base constructed during the Fascist period and a large labor reserve, which meant low wages for workers, allowed the Italians to take advantage of the high degree of international economic cooperation that produced a boom of unprecedented proportions after World War II, primarily in the industrial sector. This "economic miracle" and its benefits fostered the view that Christian Democratic leadership, in contrast to that of the Communists, guaranteed democracy, participation in Western multilateral organizations, and continued economic development. The end of hostilities allowed the first postwar governments to tackle the problem of reconstruction. In practice, Italian institutions have implemented regulations in harmony with European Union (EU) policy to regulate the inflow of immigrants, combat illegal immigration, and integrates the new minorities. In addition to the frustrations of the Italian South, the extent of organized criminal activity is also anomalous in a modern country with a thriving economy.
