Giorgetti (Minister of Economy and Finance) delivered the first Lectio Paolo Baffi
“The country needs fiscal and monetary discipline to safeguard the value of savings and the currency.” With this statement, which directly echoes Paolo Baffi’s teaching, Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti set the tone for his Lectio Paolo Baffi at Bocconi University. His return in Bocconi as an alumnus turned into a systematic analysis of the challenges facing Italy’s public finances and the issues arising from the European and geopolitical context.
Rector Francesco Billari emphasized the significance of the lecture: “The Lectio Paolo Baffi is a valuable opportunity to foster dialogue among scholars, institutions, and students on issues that shape the country’s economic life. The presence of Minister Giorgetti, a Bocconi alumnus, reflects the University’s tradition of educating civil servants capable of assuming public responsibilities at the highest level, combining technical expertise with service to the common good.”
Massimiliano Marcellino, Director of the Baffi Center, reiterated the importance of the center’s mission: “Today, the Baffi Center stands as one of Europe’s leading hubs for applied research in economics, finance, and regulation. With over 150 researchers and 16 research units, it combines academic rigor with practical relevance to address major challenges in public policy and regulation. A lecture like this, on public debt and the euro, is fully aligned with our mission to connect academic research, policy decisions, and real-world economic implications.”
The event was also an occasion to honor Paolo Baffi, a Bocconi alumnus and Governor of the Bank of Italy from 1975 to 1979, a symbol of independence and technical rigor. A refined economist, Baffi devoted his career to monetary stability and the protection of savings, anticipating many of the dilemmas that continue to shape monetary policy today.
As Donato Masciandaro, Honorary President of the Center, noted: “The thought and example of Paolo Baffi remain an essential reference point for anyone engaged in economics and public policy. The lecture that bears his name is not only a tribute but an invitation to combine knowledge, responsibility, and independence of judgment.”