"The most productive country in the world" is two hours from Palermo: it's impossible not to find work here | They even pay you a lot.

More and more Sicilians are deciding to leave their hometowns to move to places that are even closer but offer more opportunities.

Italy is facing an economic phenomenon that is profoundly impacting the lives of millions of people: inflation. This is a widespread and persistent increase in the prices of goods and services, which directly results in a drastic decrease in purchasing power . In other words, with the same amount of money, you can buy less and less.

After a period of relative stability, the last two years have seen a significant spike , with the average annual rate reaching 8.1%. This increase has had an immediate and significant impact on the daily lives of Italian families.

The data shows a widespread increase in costs in crucial sectors. For example, the average price of new cars in Italy increased by 43% between 2019 and the beginning of 2024. But the price increases have also been felt in essential spending items like utility bills : for electricity and gas alone, an average family could spend almost 170 euros more in 2025.

Even food spending hasn't been spared. Cumulative increases from previous years continue to weigh significantly on family budgets, making the purchase of basic necessities more expensive .

Productive countries

Productivity is one of the main indicators of an economy's health , but Italy is lagging behind its European peers on this front. According to recent data, our country ranks thirteenth in Europe in terms of GDP per hour worked, at 48.5 euros. This result places us behind all the major continental economies.

This gap is a long-standing structural delay. Between 2003 and the present day, Italian productivity has grown by only 2.5% , significantly lower than the European average of 19.6%, and well below France, Germany, and Spain.

About 2 hours flight from Palermo

Luxembourg remains among the most productive countries in the world, with a GDP per hour worked of $131, ranking it third globally. This exceptional performance is driven primarily by the financial services sector , which includes banks and investment funds and generates over 80% of the country's GDP.

Other strategic sectors, such as the metalworking industry and exports , contribute significantly to the country's prosperity, about a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Palermo . The combination of high efficiency and economic diversification makes Luxembourg a benchmark in Europe.