From May 22 to 25, 2025, ISEA – Applied Economics took part in the 20th edition of the Festival dell’Economia di Trento, organized by Il Sole 24 Ore, contributing to the international conversation through the participation of its Senior Fellows in several high-level panels on key global economic issues.
Below is an overview of ISEA’s participation in the Festival, along with a selection of related press articles.
Recordings of the events are available on demand on the Festival dell’Economia di Trento website. Registration may be required to access video content.
The role of the dollar in the search for a new world order
Saturday, May 24, 2025 – Palazzo Bassetti
The main event organized by ISEA during the Festival focused on the theme: “The Role of the Dollar in the Search for a New World Order.”
Opening the conference, Maristella Vicini, CEO of ISEA, recalled how, since its founding in 2021, the think tank has aimed to contribute actively to the debate on major global economic issues, with a particular focus on the evolution of the international monetary system.
Starting from the concept of the dollar’s “exorbitant privilege,” the panel explored the tensions and contradictions that currently affect the global monetary framework, challenging the existing balance of power.
In an increasingly turbulent international context, the speakers – Angelo Federico Arcelli, Adriana Castagnoli, Massimo Mocio, Pasquale Lucio Scandizzo, and Paola Subacchi – examined the underlying dynamics testing the central role of the dollar, including economic, technological, and geopolitical factors. Moderated by Maristella Vicini, the discussion also addressed the potential role of digital currencies, market volatility, and the issue of trust in the international financial system.
The following day, Il Sole 24 Ore dedicated an article to the event in the Festival’s special section (May 25, page 2), authored by Luca Orlando, titled: “From Doubts on the Dollar, the Opportunity to Attract Capital to Europe.”
A New Bretton Woods for a New World
Friday, May 23, 2025 – Palazzo Trentini
Giovanni Tria and Angelo Federico Arcelli, both Senior Fellows at ISEA, were featured in the panel “A New Bretton Woods for a New World,” moderated by Laura Serafini. The session was inspired by the co-authored book by the two economists and explored the idea of a more multipolar monetary system, in which countries of the Global South may assume a central role due to their strong trade relations with China.
The event was covered in Il Sole 24 Ore on May 24 (page 6), in an article by Laura Serafini titled: “A Monetary System with China and the BRICS Alongside the Dollar and the Euro.”
The role of the dollar and the internationalization of the renminbi
Thursday, May 22, 2025 – Palazzo della Provincia
Giovanni Tria, former Minister of Economy and currently a Senior Fellow at ISEA, participated in the panel “The Role of the Dollar and the Internationalization of the Renminbi,” alongside Yang Wang, Xiaofang Ma, and Valentina Meliciani, moderated by Rita Fatiguso.
The discussion addressed the possibility of a new international monetary agreement, acknowledging the rising influence of China and the BRICS in a context marked by the crisis of multilateralism.
The event was reported in Il Sole 24 Ore on May 23 (page 7), in an article by Rita Fatiguso titled: “Currencies, the Yuan Becomes More International: ‘A New Bretton Woods.’” A previous online version, published on May 22, carried the title: “The internationalization of the yuan is advancing inexorably, despite its non-convertibility”.
Il Trentino, a local news outlet of the Autonomous Province of Trento, also published an article titled: “A new global agreement to safeguard the world’s economy”.
Last chance saloon for EU budget reform
Sunday, May 25, 2025 – Castello del Buonconsiglio
Giovanni Tria concluded his participation in the Festival with the panel “Last chance saloon for EU budget reform” alongside Marco Buti, moderated by Adriana Cerretelli. The discussion emphasized the need to increase the share of GDP allocated to the EU common budget and highlighted the urgency of establishing a true federal governance structure for the Union.
Il Sole 24 Ore published an article on this panel on May 27 (page 2), written by Giuseppe Chiellino, under the title: “EU Budget, Ambition Needed to Aim for 2% of GDP.”
ISEA – Applied Economics, through the active participation of its Senior Fellows and the organization of its own event, once again confirms its commitment to closely monitoring global economic developments and contributing to the debate on Europe’s role in a rapidly changing world.