Microfinance literature has proved the existence of gender discriminatory practices against women in some specific contexts. Discrimination is often explored from the access side (loans approved or denied). Following Agier and Szafarz (2013), we deviate from this practice and use the variable loan size, considering up to four loans for each client. Drawing on data from a microfinance programme in Uganda, we find no evidence of gender discrimination against women clients, even though our results show that the loan size is influenced by personal characteristics and that women, in contrast to men, are rewarded according to their credit history

Microfinance industry has grown massively in the past decades. Even if it is commonly considered as an important development tool, the evidence of the socioeconomic impact of microfinance is mixed, regardless of what methodology has been applied. The purpose of this study is to assess the socioeconomic impact of microfinance on the clients of a microfinance program in Uganda, named Wekembe. To do so, we have conducted a survey on 294 Wekembe's clients and we have used the survey results to build a dataset, which by means of different methodologies-controlling also for selection bias by means of a generalized propensity score (GPS) matching technique-allows us to analyse the impact of microfinance on Wekembe clients' savings and women clients' empowerment.

This study summarises the results of an activity using a new information field: the Inps archives integrated with the Statistical Information System on Mandatory Communications (Sistema Statistico Informativo delle Comunicazioni Obbligatorie – SISCO). In the first paragraph, the regulation of the New Social Insurance for Employment, the main institution of the unemployment insurance system, is resigned. Then the second paragraph analyses in depth the methodological aspects related to the identification of the potential audience and the eligibles. The use of an integrated archive has allowed — through a logistic regression — an in-depth evaluation of the determinants of access to the treatment, as well as a first test on the quality of the selection procedures adopted. Finally, paragraph 3 below proposes a targeted summary of the main evidence in terms of the characteristics of the inputs into treatment and of the recipients, focusing on sectors and sub-populations. After the identification of possible lines of development, brief conclusions are drawn.

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Lo studio ha lo scopo di effettuare una prima ricognizione su un possibile filone di indagine che approfondisca la relazione tra indirizzi a lungo termine in materia di politica del lavoro e di welfare e il raggiungimento di nuovi assetti nel mercato del lavoro e nella società rispondenti alle finalità iniziali. Il documento mette in luce l’evoluzione in Italia della quota di contratti di lavoro dipendente a tempo determinato rispetto alla quota di contratti di lavoro dipendente standard full- time a tempo indeterminato e ne studia l’andamento in relazione agli effetti regolatori di quella normativa che, dalla Legge Fornero in poi, si è proposta di arginare alcuni effetti indesiderati della cosiddetta flessibilità cattiva sulla produttività del lavoro e sui rischi della precarietà, sia per gli individui sia per il sistema di protezione sociale.