Economic school: populist centre-right liberalism with protective social conservatism — "Dubai-of-the-Med" growth promises combined with tax cuts, immigration restriction and labour flexibilisation, but limited structural reform delivery. Left-right axis: centre-right to right. Dated policies: Bossi-Fini immigration law (Legge 189/2002) 30 July 2002 tightening entry, work-visa linkage and expulsions; Biagi labour reform (Legge 30/2003) 14 February 2003 and Decreto Legislativo 276/2003 introducing project-based contracts and staff-leasing; Tremonti fiscal-bonus investment depreciation 2001; IRPEF cut 2003-2005 (two-bracket reform partial implementation); Maroni pension reform 2004 (Legge 243/2004) raising old-age age to 60-65 from 2008; Iraq war Italian participation from 2003; Article 18 referendum on firing protection June 2003 (quorum not met); fiscal condoni (tax amnesties) 2002-2003; "Contratto con gli italiani" May 2001 campaign pledge five points; fall of Berlusconi II April 2005 after regional election losses; Berlusconi III May 2005-May 2006 short continuation. Popularity: 2001 election CdL 45.4% House landslide; approval eroded through term; 2006 election lost narrowly to Unione Prodi. Coherence: moderate — strong ideological message, weaker delivery; fiscal deficits widened; growth stagnated (2001-2006 average Italian GDP growth ~0.8%).
Policy-content fingerprint — how the framework codes this movement on its axes
Size of cash and near-cash transfer programmes (unemployment benefits, means-tested assistance, universal child benefits). Architecturally distinct from forced-saving schemes — see condition welfare_architecture.