Italians Earn Less but Pay Higher Taxes

Italians are among those earning the lowest salaries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), but pay some of the highest taxes, according to a report issued by the Rome-based socio-economic think tank Eurispes.

Based on data from 2008, the average Italian salary was said to be 21,374 U.S. dollars, placing Italy in 23rd position in the 30- nation OECD group and far below its European partners like Germany and France, but above Portugal and Poland.

Although the country's salaries are low, Eurispes said tax pressure stood at 46.5 percent for an employee, placing Italy sixth in the OECD.

The center-right government under Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi intends to implement a tax reform aimed at supporting families and workers once the economy is stronger.

The country is out of recession but the recovery is slow and uncertain, with several structural factors hindering it. The National Statistics Office Istat said on Friday that the unemployment rate had reached 8.5 in December, the highest since 2004.

Italians are still not faring well. However, the mood in the country is brighter, with the majority of people expressing optimism for the future, according to Eurispes.