Settore disciplinare:  SECS-P/03 Scienza delle finanze
Borsa di studio:  No
Curriculum Vitae: download
Email:  claudia.zola@unimore.it

Progetto di ricerca
The social impact of digitalization: evidence from local and European contexts

Digital transformation and the spread of technology represent increasingly important phenomena in the dynamics of the global economy. The impacts generated are significant and cause irrevocable changes across organizational structures, industries across all sectors and families. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the digitalization process has further strengthened. This has led to changes not only in corporate dynamics but also in the behavior of individuals.
When we talk about digitalization, we are not just referring to a question of technological adoption. Digitalization is a key element for quality of life, social well-being and development. This is why it is of particular interest to politicians, who encourage it and monitor its progress. Given its transversal nature, it cannot be treated as a phenomenon in itself but must be placed in a multidimensional context to fully understand its implications.

The research project analyzes digitalization from different perspectives, adopting an integrated approach of statistical-econometric methodologies to try to describe the different aspects of the phenomenon. This is done to provide as complete an overview as possible of digitalization processes, seeking to draw inspiration from its challenges, opportunities, and future implications.
It is developed in three parts, each of which discusses digitalization from a different perspective.

The first one focuses on digitalization at municipal level in the context of the Emilia-Romagna region. Through the construction of various indicators, the objective is to measure the degree of digitalization and the degree of development of complementary factors to provide a tool to support regional policies.

The second part aims to analyze the possible role of the skills acquired during the degree on the outcomes of the labor market, using an innovative approach to the measurement of skills. Instead of starting from a defined set of skills assessed after graduation, a competence indicator is constructed based on student performance in different types of teaching.

The last one specifically considers the diffusion of technology in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Considering that this diffusion is conditioned by the socioeconomic context and the specific types of technology considered, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the digitalization path of families are analyze, with a specific focus on Internet access and computer ownership.