Fabio Tamburini, Chairman of the Advisory Board and Scientific Committee of the Trento Festival of Economics and Director of Sole 24 Ore, explains: “The American elections marked a historic turning point, paving the way for a shift in the global landscape: the return of state power, a re-evaluation of the role of globalisation, a contraction in international trade, influenced by the increasingly strong polarisation between the United States and China. Given its dull economies and lack of leadership, Europe is increasingly a clay pot between two iron pots. Its future is linked to choices that must be made and that are not taken for granted.” Furthermore, Tamburini states: “Artificial intelligence is looming in this scenario; besides changing the world as we know it, it also draws our attention to the large amount of energy it requires and where to find it. Hence, there are significant changes and uncertainties about the risks and the choices to be made, and they will affect the future world’s trajectory.”
With its new title, the Trento Festival of Economics reaffirms its commitment to analysing the challenges of a world scenario characterised by high complexity and uncertainty. It aims to propose solutions and interpretation keys. In 2022, the theme “After the pandemic, between order and disorder” sought to deepen the pandemic's far-reaching social, economic and political effects. The 2023 edition, entitled “The future of the future. The challenges of a new world” undertook to outline the impact of sweeping technological and socio-economic transformations on humanity. In 2024 with “Quo vadis? The dilemmas of our time” the Festival addressed the pivotal issues of our era: from the worsening of conflicts worldwide to the growth of inflation and public debt, from climate change to the demographic winter.
The 2025 title of the edition of the Festival was chosen by the Advisory Board of the Trento Festival of Economics, which includes Elena Beccalli, Marco Fortis, Paolo Magri, Emma Marcegaglia, Giulio Sapelli, Giulio Tremonti and Fabio Tamburini (president).
The Scientific Committee was confirmed; it includes Professor Ericka Costa, Associate in Business Economics of the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Trento, Professor Luigi Bonatti, Full Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Trento, and economics historian Adriana Castagnoli, former professor of Contemporary History at the University of Turin.
The 2024 edition
The 19th edition of the Trento Festival of Economics was organised for the third time by the 24 ORE Group together with Trentino Marketing on behalf of the Autonomous Province of Trento and in collaboration with the Municipality of Trento and the University of Trento. It was the most successful to date: over 700 speakers and moderators in 330 events including the Festival and the events connected to it: “Fuori Festival” (new 2022), “Economie dei Territori”, “Incontri con l’autore” and the live event of Radio 24. There were over 40,000 attendees in the city and many locations went sold out, crowded by members of the economic, academic and scientific communities and the general public, including families, young people and students.