Abstract

Italians have a long tradition of saving as family, and today the data show that they continue to save. This attitude is consistent with the traditional risk aversion and the tendency to avoid personal debts. This crisis of these two years is discussed from the point of view of negative trust in the public services and banks, even if Italians tend to be less negative in relation to their personal situation (for example, they tend to be satisfied with retail bank they are customer). In relation to fears about personal security, the data show attitudes not so distant from the objective data, even if there is a classic difference from old and new risks. All in all, the data confirm the split between private and public happiness (Albert Hirshman).