He was the son of Filippo Carli (1876–1938), a university professor of Sociology and Political Economy, as well as a trade unionist and member of the National Fascist Party since its origins, who wrote a famous essay on the theoretical basis of the fascist state (corporate state).

From 1959 to 1960, he was president of Crediop; subsequently, in October 1959, he was appointed director general of the Bank of Italy.

He immediately called for greater concertation between central banks and, after the fluctuating trend of the Italian lira during the decade of the economic boom, was managing the effects of currency tensions coming from the United States, which culminated in the abandonment of the gold-dollar parity and with the Smithsonian Agreement.

He was replaced by Paolo Baffi, his main collaborator — although the views were not always coincident — as general manager of the issuing institution since 1960.

He also served as Minister of Treasure in the sixth and seventh Andreotti governments, from 22 July 1989 to 24 April 1992.