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 483.3 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- 469.7 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