*  *  *  This text draws on the first chapter of Perché i tempi stanno cambiando, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015, which originated from the author’s “Il Mulino Lecture”, 18 October 2014. I wish to thank Andrea Brandolini, Salvatore Rossi and Francesco Spadafora for their many useful comments. “For the times they are a-changin’”.
The Forum should not duplicate work being undertaken elsewhere. The Forum should, rather, work through its members, taking due account of their comparative advantages. Specifically, the Forum should bring together information about activities taking place in diverse groupings and coordinate overlapping activities. In addition, the Forum should identify gaps in existing work, and propose appropriate means of filling such gaps.