Vitantonio Mariella was a post-doctoral researcher at IRPPS – National Research Council of Italy in Rome within the PRIN project INNOGLOBA. He specializes in economic history, economic growth, structural change, and the economics of innovation. His research focuses on the role of inequality and political power in determining education levels and on the long-term impact of labor relations on social capital. Recently, he has focused his research on the role of public-private cooperation in the adoption of new technologies and in stimulating innovation. He is currently conducting research at the University of Bergamo.