fox niner Fair enough. Every govt will try and subsidise it's own companies by fair means or foul. Many of their voters expect that is what they will do!! However, the problem for Italy and AZ is that every one else in their field of business has been changing - and they have not.
In the 1980s we had the reverse problem in the UK. This is not the ideal example as it does not line up directly but it concerns govt subsidies. Our prime minister (Thatcher) decided that we should not subsidise coal and, coupled with a very unpleasant strike and trouble - did so. Unfortunately, all our competitors did not reduce their subsidies and we lost out.