The New Article 97 of the Italian Constitution

By Gabriele Bottino

Since 1 January 2014, Article 97 of the Italian Constitution establishes two new principles that apply to the public administration: the principle of balanced budget, and the principle of public debt sustainability. This article analyzes the origin of these principles, their content, and their effect on the organization and behaviour of the public administration, especially with regard to the proper use of financial and economic resources.