The crisis that sparked development
Recently published research links the COVID-19 pandemic with the launch of new female businesses
A crisis can present an opportunity for development and rebirth, and this is true of both societies and economies. This process can, of course, be traumatic in many ways, but it needs to be carefully understood and observed. The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and society is a clear example of how crises can have a profound and differentiated effect on different business sectors. To study this topic from the perspective of female entrepreneurship, a research group coordinated by Alessandra Micozzi recently published a study entitled ‘Donne e impresa al tempo del COVID-19: il ruolo dell’ecosistema aziendale’ (Women and business at the time of the coronavirus pandemic: the role of the business ecosystem).
The idea underlying all the research is that female entrepreneurship has faced a crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has amplified existing structural weaknesses in terms of access to credit, professional networks, work-life balance and care responsibilities, but which has also highlighted the capacity for adaptation, innovation and resilience that is often underestimated.
The research systematically analysed the impact of the pandemic crisis on the setting up and development of women’s businesses in Italy, taking an interdisciplinary perspective that integrated legal, economic and regional factors.
The adopted method involved analysing administrative data and resilience indicators, as well as the results of a survey aimed at women entrepreneurs who started their businesses between 2020 and 2021. The results enable us to understand how business systems have adapted to the effects of the crisis, revealing sectoral and regional variations.
However, the research coordinated by Micozzi also demonstrates how crises can act as a ‘stress test’ for local systems, revealing vulnerabilities while also creating opportunities for transformation.
Donne e impresa al tempo del COVID-19. Il ruolo dell’ecosistema imprenditoriale
Alessandra Micozzi (edited by)
Franco Angeli, 2026
Recently published research links the COVID-19 pandemic with the launch of new female businesses
A crisis can present an opportunity for development and rebirth, and this is true of both societies and economies. This process can, of course, be traumatic in many ways, but it needs to be carefully understood and observed. The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and society is a clear example of how crises can have a profound and differentiated effect on different business sectors. To study this topic from the perspective of female entrepreneurship, a research group coordinated by Alessandra Micozzi recently published a study entitled ‘Donne e impresa al tempo del COVID-19: il ruolo dell’ecosistema aziendale’ (Women and business at the time of the coronavirus pandemic: the role of the business ecosystem).
The idea underlying all the research is that female entrepreneurship has faced a crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has amplified existing structural weaknesses in terms of access to credit, professional networks, work-life balance and care responsibilities, but which has also highlighted the capacity for adaptation, innovation and resilience that is often underestimated.
The research systematically analysed the impact of the pandemic crisis on the setting up and development of women’s businesses in Italy, taking an interdisciplinary perspective that integrated legal, economic and regional factors.
The adopted method involved analysing administrative data and resilience indicators, as well as the results of a survey aimed at women entrepreneurs who started their businesses between 2020 and 2021. The results enable us to understand how business systems have adapted to the effects of the crisis, revealing sectoral and regional variations.
However, the research coordinated by Micozzi also demonstrates how crises can act as a ‘stress test’ for local systems, revealing vulnerabilities while also creating opportunities for transformation.
Donne e impresa al tempo del COVID-19. Il ruolo dell’ecosistema imprenditoriale
Alessandra Micozzi (edited by)
Franco Angeli, 2026