Abstract
We discuss the international specialization of Italy as a determinant of its rate of economic growth, documenting an incomplete economic evolution: Italy is still a follower economy in some aspects while it is being followed in some others. We show that the productivity level associated to the export bundle increased until 2000, but then slowed down, and finally started decreasing after 2005. In parallel, Italy first improved its position in the international ``product space'' in the long run, but without any sensible evolution after 1990, and the country is absent from the most sophisticated section of the map. Results are also confirmed when comparing Italy to a panel of other countries.