He was born in Biella on 17 May 1939 and graduated with full honours from Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in 1961, where he was Dean from 1995 to 2000, and Full Professor of Economics of Financial Intermediaries until 31 October 2002. He taught at Universities in Ancona, Siena, Parma, Paris (Sorbonne) and the Politecnico in Milan. For many years, he was the Chairman of Piccolo Teatro città di Milano and of the Touring Club Italiano. He is enrolled in the Register of Auditors.

He is a member of the Accademia dei Georgofili, Istituto Lombardo Accademia di Scienze e Lettere, Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti and Confrèrie des Chevaliers du Tastevin del Clos-Vougeot (Burgundy). He received a gold medal for merit from the city of Milan, is a Commander and Grand Officer for merit of the Italian Republic, and is Professor Emeritus at Università Bocconi. In 2004, he was awarded an honorary degree in “Cultural Heritage for planning and managing tourism systems” from the Università degli Studi in Rome - Tor Vergata.