Italy

Italy is one of 53 European countries located in the southern region of the continent and is the fifth most populous nation in Europe with 60 million residents. It is one of the 28 member states that make up the European Union and played a pivotal role in its formation during the 1950s. Italy, a country rich in history, culture, architecture, and landscape, has struggled to keep pace with this richness economically. Italy struggles financially due to the current and severe economic recession, which is the worst the country has ever experienced since World War II.

Historically, Italy has struggled economically since its unification in 1861. However, prior to its unification, various Italian regions had tremendous wealth. For example, Rome and its vast empire enjoyed unprecedented ...