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World Business Report: First broadcast 2016/12/02 18:32 GMT: Italy's referendum threatens to crush Renzi

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Italy's referendum threatens to crush Renzi

First broadcast 2016/12/02 18:32 GMT

First broadcast 2016/12/02 18:32 GMT: Italy's referendum threatens to crush Renzi

BBC World Service - World Business Report, Italy's referendum threatens to crush Renzi

Italy goes to the polls on Sunday, in a vote which could unseat Prime Minister Renzi

Italy decides on reforms which could have far-reaching consequences for Europe; are electric buses the future for polluted cities?; a look at the economy of Barbados.

On Sunday millions of Italians head to polling stations to decide whether their constitution should be reformed. The vote is seen as the biggest threat to European stability since the UK's referendum on EU membership in June, because of the political and financial chaos a “No” vote could cause. Lorenzo Codogno, a former chief economist with the Italian government explains the likelihood of this. The mayors of four of the world's major cities say they will ban the use of all diesel-powered cars and trucks within a decade. Buses are a big part of the city pollution problem. We speak to Hakan Agnevall, president of the Volvo Bus Corporation who says their electric buses can play a big part in the solution. Barbados is celebrating 50 years of independence. The island nation has a lot to be proud of, but there has been a long recession since 2008 and there are question marks about basing an economy so heavily on tourism. Guy Hewitt, the High Commissioner for Barbados in the UK, explains why they still retain free education and healthcare systems in such an economic environment. Plus Elaine Moore of the Financial Times and Shelly Banjo of Bloomberg talk us through the big stories of the week.

(Photo: Italian referendum billboard posters. Credit: Filippo Monteforte/Getty Images)

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First broadcast 2016/12/02 18:32 GMT: Italy's referendum threatens to crush Renzi

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