Indeed, in Italy the limit is very low at 15 employees. This is part of the explanation to the very small average size of businesses. Since the introduction of

Indeed, in Italy the limit is very low at 15 employees. This is part of the explanation to the very small average size of businesses. Since the introduction of this limit in 1970, bigger firms started contracting more and more of their work to smaller firms with which they could flexibly terminate the contract with at any time.