True to his word, Mr Bassolino recently sold Naples airport to British Airports Authority.

ECONOMIST: Italy��s economy

Mr Bassolino had earlier proposed to create some new jobs by a scheme for early retirement, but nobody else in government sounded keen.

ECONOMIST: Italy

Antonio Bassolino, the mayor of Naples, is one of those who a decade ago would have been petitioning Rome for another blast furnace or two.

ECONOMIST: Italy��s economy