How has Italian insurers' asset book value evolved from 1998 to 2012?

This research aims to analyse the dynamics of the book value of assets of a cross-section of Italian insurers in a medium/long period of time (from 1998 to 2012), correlating this with Italian nominal GDP. Subsequently, to permit more in-depth investigation of these dynamics, the research, based on a quantitative method, moves from an analysis of the absolute values to analysis of the rates of change of the assets book value with those of the Italian GDP. Lastly, for more analysis, attention has been focused on certain assets considered particularly significant. In this way, this research correlates macroeconomic variables with some of the most important financial variables (assets) in a medium/long period of time, that cover years both before and after the global crisis that started in 2007. This study may offer interesting suggestions both at theoretical and practical levels, mainly for managers (who frequently base their decisions only upon short-time data) and potential long-time investors.