From the traditional economy to the green economy
Doctoral research aims to verify the theory by looking at two regional case studies
The term ‘ecological transition’ is increasingly common. This is because the transition from the current rather generalised state of production to one that is more attentive to environmental aspects is a path that all companies must take, albeit in different ways and forms. Understanding their social and economic impacts is certainly beneficial, particularly with regard to gender policies. This is precisely what Elisa Errico set out to achieve in her doctoral thesis, ‘Le PMI alla prova della green economy: impatti sociali e inclusione di genere’ (SMEs testing the green economy: social impact and gender inclusion).
In the opening pages of the research, Errico herself explains that the work aims to
explore ‘the ecological transition of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a specific focus on the distributional, social, and gender impacts generated by these processes of change’.
The work therefore adopts the literature on regional and sectoral innovation systems and local development as theoretical references, relating them to the international literature on the governance of transitions and the relationship between capitalist systems and the impact on inequalities. The research has four main objectives. To analyse whether the ecological transition of SMEs represents a different innovation process to that of more structured companies, and if so, why. To consider how particular contextual factors that govern the ecological transition influence the capacity of SMEs to absorb eco-innovations. To evaluate if and how different governance models have different distributional impacts. Finally, to provide useful suggestions for future research and policies to help public decision makers and sector operators improve and make transition processes more inclusive. Errico combines theoretical reasoning and field analysis in two case studies: the Bergamo Rubber Valley and the Turin rubber district.
Elisa Errico’s research is an important step towards understanding the spread of the so-called green economy in Italy.
Le PMI alla prova della green economy: impatti sociali e inclusione di genere
Elisa Errico
Doctoral thesis in Sociology, XXXVII cycle, Doctoral School of Social and Economic Sciences
Sapienza University of Rome, 2025
Doctoral research aims to verify the theory by looking at two regional case studies
The term ‘ecological transition’ is increasingly common. This is because the transition from the current rather generalised state of production to one that is more attentive to environmental aspects is a path that all companies must take, albeit in different ways and forms. Understanding their social and economic impacts is certainly beneficial, particularly with regard to gender policies. This is precisely what Elisa Errico set out to achieve in her doctoral thesis, ‘Le PMI alla prova della green economy: impatti sociali e inclusione di genere’ (SMEs testing the green economy: social impact and gender inclusion).
In the opening pages of the research, Errico herself explains that the work aims to
explore ‘the ecological transition of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a specific focus on the distributional, social, and gender impacts generated by these processes of change’.
The work therefore adopts the literature on regional and sectoral innovation systems and local development as theoretical references, relating them to the international literature on the governance of transitions and the relationship between capitalist systems and the impact on inequalities. The research has four main objectives. To analyse whether the ecological transition of SMEs represents a different innovation process to that of more structured companies, and if so, why. To consider how particular contextual factors that govern the ecological transition influence the capacity of SMEs to absorb eco-innovations. To evaluate if and how different governance models have different distributional impacts. Finally, to provide useful suggestions for future research and policies to help public decision makers and sector operators improve and make transition processes more inclusive. Errico combines theoretical reasoning and field analysis in two case studies: the Bergamo Rubber Valley and the Turin rubber district.
Elisa Errico’s research is an important step towards understanding the spread of the so-called green economy in Italy.
Le PMI alla prova della green economy: impatti sociali e inclusione di genere
Elisa Errico
Doctoral thesis in Sociology, XXXVII cycle, Doctoral School of Social and Economic Sciences
Sapienza University of Rome, 2025