Italy’s Struggling Economy Has World’s Healthiest People

It isn't about access to care, it is about lifestyle and community. This has had a lot of study and is similar to the so called Hispanic health paradox. Poor Italians and Hispanic people have better health than wealthy Americans because of their relations with extended family. As a result there is also a social cost in that such healthy and socially integrated people are less likely to be radicals.

Maybe part of it. One reason for the 40% unemployment is you have almost full job security once you get one. So people don't want to hire when you can't get rid of them pretty much for ever.