Erica Poma

Progetto di ricerca
Regulatory government policies and organizational practices to improve inclusion and well-being

My research project is focused on both regulatory and other macroeconomic policies adopted by national and sovranational institutions and organizational practices at company level for reducing gender inequalities and discrimination against the most fragile groups improving their well-being in the workplace and the society.

The first chapter of the thesis relates the analysis of gender quotas, a policy measure that recently has been widely adopted in many countries with the scope of increasing gender balance on boards and fostering women participation in the decision-making processes. In Italy, gender quotas have been introduced in 2011 through the “Golfo-Mosca Law”. Using a balance panel, I evaluate the efficacy of this policy in Italy, with respect to its effects in improving the gender diversity on boards of both companies directly targeted by the law as well as on those companies that were not targeted by it. This chapter also analyzes the glass cliff phenomenon, according to which women are more likely to be appointed in leadership roles when firms face financial difficulties and are in precarious conditions.

My second and third chapters focus on policies (e.g government social support during pandemic) and organizational practices (e.g home based work, work life balance practices, supervisor support) that can be implemented by firms and organizations for improving well-being and job satisfaction of the women and other discriminated groups.

This thesis aims to contribute to the debate on equity and justice in the labor market and workplace by highlighting possible measures that can improve the representation of women and other fragile populations, their working conditions and  well-being.