The big boot By Colin Seith

Economy  The economic data reveals that the Italian's quality of life is very rich or nice and that they are a developed country  -GDP growth rate  2.3% -GDP PP 30,100  GDP composition by sector industry: 23.9%, services:74.1%, agriculture: 2%  - labor force by occupation agriculture: 3.9%, services: 67.8%, industry: 28.3%  -unemployment rate 10.9%  -poverty rate 13%  -budget deficit: -2.9%  -inflation rate 3%  -industries: tourism, machinery, iron, steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics  exports billion : engineering, tobacco, food, drinks, transport equipment  Export partners- Germany 13.3%, France 11.8%, us 5.9%, Spain 5.4%, Switzerland 5.4%, united kingdom 4.7%  Imports billion engineering products, food, drinks, tobacco  Import partners- Germany 16.5%, France 8.8%, china 7.7, Netherlands 5.5, Spain 4.7

Geography, climate, and natural resources  Their geography, climate, natural resources affect their daily jobs  GEOGRAPHY  Its unique shape(a boot)makes it one of the most recognizable countries in the world  surrounded on three of four sides by the Mediterranean sea and bears more than 5000 miles of beaches  2 main mountain ranges- Alps in north, Apennine through the middle  CLIMATE  North- hot summers, cold winters (rarely drops below freezing during day)  South- mild winters, long, dry, hot summers  Mountains- long clod winters, short cool summers  NATURAL REASOUSES  Coal, mercury, zinc, potash, barite, asbestos, marble, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite, natural gas, crude oil reserves, fish and arable land

culture  What we need to know about to prove that they have a very unique life is that they are very fancy, make fancy sports car such as Lamborghinis and Ferraris, love sports and are very festive  Many aspects are rooted from the Greeks and romans (most noticeably the legal system and art)  Today they mainly tend to relax over a delicious meal and enjoy a good game of calico (soccer)  To our lives add a love for music, and the need for fashion and personal expression and you have the perfect recipe for the Italian lifestyle

Current events  The public debt rose to the highest level since Benito Mussolini won elections 89 years ago, paving the way for his 20-year dictatorship  Beppe Grillo, who holds the balance of power in parliament, suggested that Italy abandons the euro and goes back to the lire  He says in 6 months Italy will not be able to pay pensions and the wages of public employees