Just before Christmas I took part in a colloquium held in Venice and organised by Promo Studio and ISEO. On a panel there were nine Nobel Laureates in Economics, the Deputy Minister of Finance of Italy and myself.
There was excellent analysis of the situation (pensions was the topic when I was there) and excellent comparisons of experience. There was, however, very little attempt to put forward new ideas. This could mean that discussion was seen as limited to private or government funded schemes. It could be that the participants were not asked to come up with ideas. It could be that analysis and judgement are safer and more attractive than ideation. It might even be that 'provocation' is not yet recognised as a thinking tool and so you were not supposed to put forward new ideas until it had been thoroughly researched. As a provocation, I did suggest that individuals should be allowed to choose their date of death and pensions would be adjusted accordingly. Of course, you are not obliged to die on your chosen date.
Edward de Bono nmt
10th February 2002
Malta
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