Look for more investment opportunities in Italy over the next year. With the election of center-right Silvio Berlusconi as prime minister of Italy, and the sweeping victories of his party in the parliament, the country may well tilt a socialist-oriented European Union toward liberal, free-market agendas. Among Berlusconi’s priorities are cutting taxes, simplifying the tax system, reducing Italy’s bloated bureaucracy, and hastening privatization of state-owned companies. One of Berlusoni’s strengths is that he comes from business, rather than from government, and has no vested interest in maintaining the status quo. His plan for tax cutting includes reducing the top rate for companies and individuals from 43% to 33%.