Italy Is at the Forefront for Women's Representation

The gender gap, especially inside the high levels of big companies, has not been resolved yet. It is necessary to admit though, that after the approval of the 120/2011 Golfo-Mosca law, better known as "the law on gender quotas," the situation has gotten better, underlining how this law has put Italy a step forward on this matter. According to this law, the social organs of companies listed in the stock exchange and state-owned companies expiring from 12 August 2012 have to be comprise of at least 1/5 of female members at the first renewal, and 1/3 at the next two.

Paola Profeta, Associate Professor of Public Economics at Universitàì Bocconi and coordinator of the "Gender Initiative" in the Dondena Research Center, together with her colleague Alessandra Casarico, also Associate Professor of Public Economics at Università Bocconi, and with Livia Amidani Aliberti, Marilisa D'Amico, and Anna Puccio has published a book on this topic, Women Directors-The Italian way and beyond (Palgrave Macmillan, £62.50, 224 pages). The book starts with an analysis of gender issues, to then focus on the situation in companies' Boards of Directors, and continuing with a deep analysis of the 120/2011 law's effects on the Italian case, and at the end to broaden the perspective at an international level. In this case, other countries may have a lot to learn from Italy, that thanks to this law is experimenting not only an increase of women representation at high levels but also a deep process of renovation and improvement of the ruling class, with possible positive consequences on the society in its totality.