Giving credit to women entrepreneurs: the Italian credit gender gap.​

The purpose of this elaborate is to study the inner causes and consequences of the gender credit gap in Italy. Firstly, the Italian gender equality current situation is analysed in a European perspective. Secondly, the conditions of access to credit in Italy and in particular to women entrepreneurs are examined. It is thus highlighted the impact of gender bias, discrimination and belief-based self-exclusion mechanisms. At this regard, the academic debate is mainly articulated on three levels: the analysis of the demand side differences (i.e. women tendency to opt out of the loan application process, Ongena et al., 2015), the structural differences (Stefani and Vacca, 2013) and the potential supply side discrimination (Alesina et al., 2013). Moreover, the level of women entrepreneurs' skills and financial literacy is investigated. To conclude, some potential solutions to facilitate lending to female-owned firms are envisaged.​