A Comparative Evaluation of the Italian Experience

Abstract

Chapter 7 provided evidence on the effectiveness of the Italian gender quota law in several dimensions. In this chapter we provide a comparative assessment of the Italian law and the different international initiatives put in place in European countries aimed at increasing the presence of women on boards. This chapter is directly related to Chapter 4, where the set of measures undertaken across Europe is described in detail. As we learnt from the analysis developed in that chapter, different States adopted different approaches: these choices may in part reflect the different views of European citizens on the appropriate means to enhance female participation in decision-making. As reported in European Commission (2012a), a 2011 Eurobarometer survey finds that 88% of Europeans believe that women should be equally represented in company leadership positions. When asked to choose between alternative policy options to achieve gender balance on company boards, opinion is divided between self-regulation by companies (31%), binding legal measures (26%), and non-binding measures such as corporate governance codes and charters (20%).