Thesis title: Le PMI alla prova della green economy: impatti sociali e inclusione di genere.
The study investigates the green transition of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the distributional, social, and gender-related impacts. It contributes to the academic discourse on the green economy by drawing on theoretical frameworks from literature on territorial innovation systems (Bagnasco, 1977; Becattini, 2000; Burroni & Trigilia, 2011), sectoral innovation systems (Malerba & Orsenigo, 1997), and local development (Trigilia, 2005). This analysis is within the broader context of international research on transition governance (Meadowcroft, 2007) and the complex relationship between ecological transitions, capitalism, and resultant inequalities (Mazzucato, 2013; Piketty, 2014; Atkinson, 2015).
Although socio-technical perspectives (Geels, 2005) dominate the study of ecological transitions, they often inadequately consider the influence of context-specific factors and the agency of local actors on the uneven distribution of innovation’s consequences, especially concerning gender. Empirical research on SMEs, particularly in the rubber industry, is limited, highlighting a gap this study aims to fill.
The study is structured around four research goals: 1) To analyze the ecological transition of SMEs, considering whether and why it differs from that of larger companies 2) To investigate how context and agencies influence ecological transition governance and its impact on SMEs’ eco-innovation adoption 3)To assess the relationship between different models of governance and unequal distributional impacts, incorporating a gender lens 4) Empirical data informs recommendations for future research and policy, designed to support public institutions and sectoral stakeholders in creating more inclusive and effective green transitions.
We used a qualitative, micro-level approach to avoid misrepresenting the complexities of the ecological transition (Piketty, 2014). The research design unfolds in multiple phases. It begins by reviewing existing literature and analyzing secondary data to develop the study’s conceptual framework and research questions. Opening chapters set the Italian case within a global context by analyzing its governance and public policy approaches to the green transition.
Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in trade unions, institutional bodies, and intermediary organizations inform the study’s exploration of national-level impacts. The findings reveal a dotted transition, as the concentration of eco-innovation is linked to resource availability and varies significantly across different sectors and geographical locations. These inequalities lead to a “low-road” transition, where environmental improvements are made without corresponding improvements in job quality or reductions in social and gender inequality.
The second phase of the research offers a comparative analysis of two territorial SME systems specialising in rubber manufacturing. This sector was selected because of its paradoxical characteristics: significant environmental impact and crucial role in supporting economically and socially vital supply chains. Two areas were selected as case studies because of their significance: the Sebino Bergamasco district and the Metropolitan City of Turin. The fieldwork involved in-depth qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, including local government, trade unions, SMEs, and relevant public and private intermediaries.
The study shows that the quality of regional governance significantly influences both the eco-innovation capabilities of SMEs and the fair distribution of the positive impacts of the transition, even within similar industries. The Sebino district—characterised by dense, cohesive, and cooperative local networks (Bagnasco, 1977; Becattini, 2000)—emerges as particularly well-suited to supporting sectoral eco-innovation (Malerba & Orsenigo, 1997), successfully combining economic competitiveness, environmental protection, and social well-being. In this context, the benefits of transition are more equitably distributed among firms and local communities.
The local networks of SMEs in Turin are characterized by fragmentation and hierarchical structures, with substantial dominance exerted by larger firms. Weak coordination, limited dialogue with public authorities, and one-size-fits-all interventions reinforce existing inequalities between firms and their workers, based on the varying resources at their disposal.
The case studies converge on a shared limitation—the omission of gender impact assessments in ecological transition initiatives. Following Mazzucato (2013) and Piketty (2014), without corrective mechanisms, innovation may increase gender inequalities. This field requires further academic investigation.
Conclusions present a ten-point summary outlining potential interventions designed to reform the green transition as a vehicle for reforming the prevailing capitalist model, mitigating the risk of reinforcing existing environmental, social, and economic imbalances.