Business: Italian Super-Power

Italy, on its 119,242 sq. mi. of mountainous country, supports a population of 39,989,385 souls. The support is poor. Half of the people work on farms. Most of the others work in factories. The factory workers, although quick, industrious and intelligent, are not robust. They can do only light work.

Italy has about 250,000 factories, of which less than 10% employ 10 or more persons each. Few good highways, little mineral resources and especially a paucity of coal mines hamper the factories. They must import almost all their raw materials. Expensive materials and frail...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!