As a young girl, Maria Rosaria Marino pictured herself working for a bank or big enterprise.
Fast forward a few decades, she’s the director of Italy’s Parliamentary Budget Office and a key advisor to the government.
“I decided to do accounting because I loved it, and I then chose economics at university,” she told The Epoch Times.
Growing Up in a Traditional Family
The youngest daughter of three, Marino grew up in a traditional and religious family.
“My parents stayed married all their life and were always very supportive of my choices.”
Since childhood, she has been interested in economics, and graduated from La Sapienza, a renowned university in Rome, Italy.
The Bank of Italy is a public institution, therefore not the type of environment Marino said she was dreaming of. This opportunity, however, led to a shift in her professional perspective.
“I moved my interest toward real economics. And I loved this job since the beginning,” she said.
Through her role, she realised that she was able to make a difference in other people’s lives.
“My colleagues could not only change things but also inform people on how to improve our country,” she said. “I started to move in a different direction, and that’s why I went to the United States for my PhD. I didn’t conclude it, but I found the path I wanted to follow.”
Over the years, Marino faced some challenges, including a culture shock when arriving in the United States in the 1990s.
“I wanted to do well, but the education system there was very different from the Italian one; so, I had to work incredibly hard to get some results. The first year was terrible, then I understood and became more confident.”
She spent two and a half years in America—longer than planned—calling it an enriching experience.
“I was already an employee of the Bank of Italy … I knew that what I had done, at that point, was enough to have a career in Bank of Italy, so I decided not to complete my PhD.”
Marino worked at the Bank of Italy from 1992 to 2014, eventually landing a job in public finance.
At the bank, Marino acquired strong knowledge and expertise on specific topics, such as revenue forecasts, taxes, sectorial analysis on healthcare, the pension system, labour market, investments, and local finance.
She was then offered a position at the Parliamentary Budget Office, where she currently is the director.
On Immigration, the EU, and Inflation
Marino shared her thoughts on hot topics like immigration, inflation, and the role of Italy in the European Union.
Italy is one of the founding members of the EU, and plays a significant role in its governance and policies.
“There has been a time where [Italy’s] role was not that strong,” she said. “We always had—together with other countries, including France, Germany, and Spain—a very important part in leading the European Union.”
Due to its proximity to Africa and other Mediterranean countries, immigration remains one of the most controversial issues facing Italy, particularly illegal immigration.
The continuous arrival of undocumented migrants by boat has fuelled human trafficking, exploitation, and other related criminal activities.
Despite recognising the positive aspects of migration, Marino highlights the need for clear laws to regulate it. “Migration has to be managed in a different manner, in Italy and in other European countries. Immigration can be a very good asset for European countries. With a population which is shrinking, migration can be the answer to the lack of young people, young workers.”
Regarding Italy’s economy, Marino believes that identifying the type of inflation and its underlying causes is important to dealing with the problem.
“The current inflation is driven by a rise in energy prices, that then spreads to food … clearly, this has a different weight on families and enterprises.
“Poor households tend to have in their ‘consumption basket’ a higher percentage of energy goods, and food. And if the increase in prices hits those elements, the low-income families are most exposed to inflation, which clearly creates also a social problem. This type of inflation is different from housing inflation, which is driven by other factors, like a shortage of construction materials.”
The Woman Behind The Economist
Behind her institutional role is a woman with many interests, passions, and faith.
“I have faith, I live following compassion, and I believe that there is something after death,” she said.
“The passion for Harley-Davidson started when I was very young. When I was 40, I decided to try and ride one. I went to a shop and I immediately bought it. Riding a Harley Davidson makes me feel free, and it gave me the opportunity to meet many nice people to travel around with in my spare time,” she said.
She also has an interest in wines.
“I have a friend who is a sommelier. We usually hang out and have a drink. Listening to her talking about wines ignited my curiosity, and I decided to do the sommelier course because I wanted to know more. As usual, when I decide to do something, I do it with passion, so I also did courses on specific wines afterwards.”
The economist believes that success requires both perseverance and effort.
“One of the most important things that I have learned in my life is that working hard is key to achieving what you want. And I worked very hard in my life. I think about my job, my family and all.”
Marino said that through her work she can have a positive impact on the community.
“You feel part of a very strict number of people that can change something. I’m not a politician. I cannot do politics, but I can advise, and I can understand if some measures are right or wrong for my country.”
