Premier Matteo Renzi said Thursday that the government must "change approach" and convince citizens that paying taxes is the right thing to do, so that peer pressure will improve adherence.
As well, simplifying tax rules "is a prerequisite for fighting crime," Renzi said in a speech to a class of tax police in Ostia, near Rome. "Those who do wrong should be stung, but the rules should be made simpler," he said.
He also discussed a series of reforms the government is undertaking, but added that it is not enough to reform Italian institutions, election laws and the Constitution.
"The first real reform is that of schools," Renzi said.
Concerning his controversial Jobs Act labour reforms, moving through parliament, the premier said that this will result in "fewer excuses but no fewer rights".
Critics, including outraged trade unions, have said that his reforms will reduce workers' job protections.
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