Hi from Italy. What the parent is saying is correct/partially correct. Still Italy is a very difficult place to do business for a number of factors: burocracy, cultural attitude (who you know means too much), strict labour legislation, slow justice system just to mention the first few which come to my mind. If you come from abroad the above factors become 100times harder to manage/understand. We have a lot of talents and the same amount of weaknesses. Not easy at all. Still a great place to visit and to spend holidays in. Sorry I don't mean to be harsh.