The Italian Economic System: A Comprehensive Overview

What is the economic system of Italy? The economy of Italy is based on a mixed economy. The country’s economic system combines elements of a market economy and a planned economy.

Italy has a diversified economy with a focus on manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. It is the world’s eighth-largest exporter of goods and services.

In Italy, the economy is composed of a private sector, consisting of individuals and businesses that make autonomous decisions based on self-interest, and a public sector, where the state determines the production and distribution of certain goods and services. No country is purely capitalist or purely communist.

What do the freedom indexes tell about the economic system of Italy?

Now, to determine if a country is mostly a market economy or a planned economy, it is useful to examine some economic indexes. For instance, according to the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom, which measures the ability of every human to control his own labor and property, Italy is ranked 73rd globally and 35th in Europe with a score of 63.3, indicating that the country has a moderately free economy.

In a similar way, the 2026 Freedom House index evaluates the state of political rights and civil liberties globally. Generally, market economies tend to align more with democracy and freedom, while command economies tend to be characterized by greater state control and fewer democratic and civil liberty protections. Italy gets a score of 87/100, which qualifies it as Free. Italy is a country where the government does not control what people do for political reasons, and people have the freedom to choose (what, how much, and how to produce, whether to buy or not, selling price, etc.)

The Link Between Public Sector Employment and the Economic System of Italy

An indicator of the extent to which the State is involved in the economy is the number of public sector employees. In Italy, according to ILOSTAT, the number of public sector employees as a percentage of the total workforce is 16.0% (2013). In the country’s mixed economy, the number of public sector employees as a percentage of the total workforce varies based on the specific policies and practices adopted by the State.

Some economic activities are left to the private sector while others are under government control. The bigger the public sector the closer is the economy to being a command economy.

What do the biggest companies in Italy say about the country’s economic system?

The biggest company in Italy should also be looked at, as well as whether it is a state-owned or private company. In this case, Eni S.p.A. is Italy’s largest company by revenue, an integrated oil and gas multinational headquartered in Rome. Eni reported total revenues of approximately €91.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. The Italian government holds an indirect stake of approximately 30% in Eni through the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, making it a partially state-influenced enterprise.

Additionally, Italy’s private sector industries include fashion, automotive, and tourism. While public industries include healthcare, education, and transportation.

More: Top 10 Biggest companies by revenue in Italy

The historical factors that have influenced the economic system of Italy

The mixed economy system of Italy in the last century was caused by a combination of factors, including the post-WWII economic boom, the introduction of the euro, and the liberalization of the Italian economy.

These factors allowed for increased foreign investment, increased competition, and the development of a more open and competitive market. This has resulted in a more balanced economy, with both public and private sectors playing an important role.

Sources

• List of countries by the public sector size
• ILOSTAT – Italy country profile
• 2026 Index of Economic Freedom – Italy
• Freedom in the World 2026 – Italy
• Eni S.p.A.

Last updated: June 20, 2026