Giulia Iannone (p)

Alina Sorgner

This study investigates the influence of female participation in the workforce on the establishment and performance of socially responsible enterprises known as Benefit Corporations (B-Corps). In addition to gender diversity, the research examines several other critical factors shaping the spatial distribution of B-Corps, such as local political environments, socioeconomic contexts, and regional industrial composition. While previous research has predominantly focused on firm-level drivers that encourage the adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices, there remains a significant gap in understanding how local and regional conditions impact both the presence and the operational effectiveness of B-Corps. To address this gap, the current study explores the determinants that affect where B-Corps are established and examines the local factors that drive their social and environmental performance outcomes. The analysis draws on an extensive dataset that aggregates B-Corp information alongside county-level characteristics from 2013 to 2022. The findings reveal that counties with a more liberal political orientation, higher levels of educational attainment, and greater income inequality are statistically more likely to host B-Corps. Moreover, enhanced workforce diversity – as measured by the proportion of women in the labor force and the presence of foreign-born residents – is positively associated with improved performance in employee welfare and environmental stewardship. These results underscore the pivotal role that socioeconomic and political contexts play in shaping environments conducive to CSR-oriented business practices, highlighting the potential for inclusive workforce policies to foster broader social and environmental benefits.

Alina Sorgner (p), Fabrizio Conti

Chiara Lodi

This paper investigates the relationship between the spread of witch-hunts in Europe in the early-modern period and contemporary regional gender inequalities in European regions. Using a comprehensive dataset on witch trials that we merge with contemporary regional data on gender-related socio-demographic outcomes, we reveal a significant relationship between witch-hunts and the contemporary level of gender inequalities in the NUTS3 European regions. Regions that witnessed the “witch craze” in the past tend to be significantly different from regions without such an experience regarding the sex ratio and several fertility indicators. Moreover, we show that the characteristics of witch-hunts, for instance, in terms of their intensity and severity, but also their duration and timing, play a role in explaining the regional variation in gender outcomes. In addition, the gender bias in the persecutions for witchcraft toward the male or the female sex seems to be differently related to regional gender outcomes nowadays. Population in regions that experienced witch-hunts have a significantly lower level of egalitarian attitudes toward the role of women in society. These relationships are robust to the inclusion of other regional characteristics that may impact gender inequalities. Using individual-level data for Germany, we further show that gender gaps in employment and earnings are wider in regions with the legacy of witch-hunts. We argue that these observations provide indications of a long-term persistence of local social norms related to gender roles in a society.

Chiara Lodi (p), Agnese Sacchi, Francesco Vidoli

Giulia Iannone

This study investigates the impact of female representation in municipal councils on municipal waste collection and recycling behaviour in Italian municipalities belonging to different territories between 2010 and 2019. We used the staggered difference-in-differences design (CSDID) to obtain unbiased estimates and a causal interpretation of the estimated effect. First, we provide causal evidence indicating that the presence of a majority of women in the municipal council significantly influences pro-environmental behaviour among citizens. Second, we emphasised the importance of considering the location, not just the manner, in which this change occurs; our findings indicate that the impact of a female-majority council varies by region and is more pronounced in areas with lower levels of social capital. In general, this study highlights the intersection of gender politics and environmental sustainability in a local geographical framework, advocating for increased representation of women in political spheres as a catalyst for positive environmental change.