In recent years, machine learning techniques have assumed an increasingly central role in many areas of research, from computer science to medicine, including finance. In the current study, we applied it to financial literacy to test its accuracy, compared to a standard parametric model, in the estimation of the main determinants of financial knowledge. Using recent data on financial literacy and inclusion among Italian adults, we empirically tested how tree-based machine learning methods, such as decision trees, random, forest and gradient boosting techniques, can be a valuable complement to standard models (generalized linear models) for the identification of the groups in the population in most need of improving their financial knowledge.

No abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the social and economic impact that microfinance programmes have on participant’s lives, particularly on women in the Mediterranean countries, by identifying the changes occurred in the lives of interviewees and of their families from the moment they took part in a microcredit programme. At first we analyse changes occurred in consumption levels, savings behaviour, food and house conditions of beneficiaries; then we investigate the impact on women empowerment through the creation of an index on the changes of women’s conditions

No abstract

Economists' infamous failure at predicting the recent financial crisis has brought new impetus to studies on diversity in the economics profession. Such studies have underlined how diversity plays a prominent role in enriching economic analyses. The main purpose of this article is to provide new insights into the degree of gender diversity: rather than looking at women's presence in academia only, we extend our focus to the research production by academic economists in the last few decades. The tendency to identify research quality with standardised bibliometric indicators-i.e. impact factor or h index-had consequences in term of heterogeneity of researchers within institutions (at all levels), and, most of all, in terms of pluralism of research interests. Our new data uncovers a double convergence path: i) a progressive reduction in the variety of research interests of women and men economists; ii) a tendency to "homologate" with international standards of perceived research 'excellence'.