Projects 39th cycle

Department of Economics (DSE) 1 PhD scholarship fonded by the European Union (NEXT GENERATION EU) – Ministry of University and Research PNRR ex D.M. 117/2023 and Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute

Supervisors: Francesco Paolucci (SDE) and Luca Sangiorgi (IOR)

As part of the Regional Project for Rare Diseases in the Emilia Romagna Region, a Hub and Spoke model has been developed to strengthen regional networks for specific diseases by involving local facilities. In this contest, in the Bologna Metropolitan Area a network that involves the 4 major hospital and all the services has been established by the Conferanza Territoriale Socio Sanitaria Metropolitana This model aims to improve services for patients with rare diseases, which require extensive organization and collaboration among various skills.

In this context, the project is aimed to design, model, and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of this new clinical pathway in enhancing the physical well-being and satisfaction of patients with Rare Diseases.

The analysis will address the research question: "Is the Metropolitan Network model cost-effective for Rare Diseases patients compared to the current pathway of care?".

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on a specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Department of Business Sciences (DiSA), PhD scholarship funded by the European Union (NEXT GENERATION EU), the Ministry of University and Research, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Ministerial Decree 117/2023) and the University of Bologna and by Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (position 1 of the call expiring on 08/22/2023).

Supervisor Emanuele Padovani (DiSA), co-supervisor Viola Damen (IOR)

The project focuses on innovation in governing and monitoring the surgical patient journey. Using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and digitized clinical data, it aims to improve the efficiency and quality of care. The objectives include (1) analysis of existing models, (2) development of an optimized model, (3) implementation of a monitoring system, and (4) impact assessment. The methodology involves literature research, interviews, data analysis, model development and implementation. Expected outcomes include identification of critical issues in existing models, development of an improved model, successful implementation and effectiveness evaluations. This project promises to improve surgical care for greater efficiency and safety.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on a specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Department of Economics (DSE), 1 PhD scholarship funded by the European Union (NEXT GENERATION EU), the Ministry of University and Research, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (ex D.M. 117/2023 - PA), the University of Bologna and Learlab s.r.l. (position 17 of the call).

Supervisor: Elena Argentesi (DSE) and Alessia Marrazzo (Lear)

Research project in the fields of economics and competition policy. In particular, ex-post evaluation of the decisions of the competition authorities in the context of agreements, abuses or concentrations; and/or assessment of the impact of specific national and/or supranational competition policies (such as, for example, the European Commission guidelines on state aid); and/or analysis of the level of competition prevailing in specific sectors of economic activity; and/or analysis of the relationship between competition and social welfare. The research project will be carried out within the framework of projects commissioned by the Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission or by other competition authorities or international organizations (EBRD, OECD, World Bank).

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on a specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Department of Statistics "Paolo Fortunati" (STAT), 1 PhD scholarship funded by the European Union (NEXT GENERATION EU), the Ministry of University and Research, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (ex D.M. 117/2023 - PA), the University of Bologna and Coop Alleanza 3.0 (position 18 of the call).

Supervisors Martin Forster (STAT), Beatrice Biondi (STAT) and Giulia Pippa (Coop Alleanza 3.0)

Development of statistical models for the design of marketing tools and the definition of commercial policies

The project is aimed at the targeted development and application in business scenarios of statistical methods to support strategic decisions in the "retail" sector. The specific objectives are inserted in a context of stimulus to improve the environmental sustainability and healthiness of the consumption of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). The evidence produced by the research will provide support for the definition of private strategies and the implementation of public policies aimed at reducing the environmental impact of purchases and promoting healthier consumption in terms of nutritional content.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on a specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Supervisor Giuseppe Pignataro

The project will focus on the issues of economic/social inequality from a multidimensional perspective by observing the impact of key determinants on different outcomes. We aim to provide a comprehensive view of the challenges surrounding this issue. Part of the analysis will cover the field of inequality of opportunity - a new area recently developed in the literature - through the empirical consideration of multiple aspects both at the educational, territorial and health levels, with a predominant focus on Italian data.

On the one hand, the project will examine the world of inequality not only as inequality on wealth, but with the aim of understanding the alternative channels of transmission of wealth, such as social and family background, the role of education, job opportunities and other determinants of a country's development. The approach we will follow requires various statistical/economic tools, starting with the coefficients/indices of inequality, poverty and social deprivation that are widely used in the academic literature and by the leading international organizations. Then, we will consider additional empirical estimates by identifying effects on the distributions of reference outcomes using software such as STATA or R.

On the other hand, the project will look at the estimation of some public policies that have helped to reduce the level of inequality at the local and national levels. The main objective will be to identify their impact and try to propose alternative solutions within the framework proposed by the PNRR project (GRINS) on the spatial dimension, social cohesion, and the development of the territories. The methodologies that will be used are econometric techniques adopted to estimate the causality of the phenomena under study.

For these reasons, the two fellowships foreseen for this project, namely the PNRR Fellowship ex M.D. 118/2023 - Public Administration and the PNRR Extended Partnerships Fellowship, both funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU, require students with a strong interest in quantitative analysis and advanced econometric skills. In addition to the necessary knowledge of STATA and R, skills in ArcGIS/QGIS -- as well as software related to data scraping such as Python -- are required. The task of the PhD students in this project will be on the one hand the academic commitment towards the development of a research thesis according to the standards provided by GOMAP -- but at the same time the required tasks will include the development of a series of deliverables within the framework of the Spoke 8 -- GRINS project.

Finally, contacts are currently underway with a national public body and an international research center -- involving a mandatory 6-month collaboration of the student -- for the PNRR Fellowship ex D.M. 118/2023.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is two.

Supervisors: Alessandro Tavoni (DSE), Riccardo Ghidoni (DSE)

Individuals’ vs communities’ role in fostering ecological transition

Purpose of the project and research programme

The research developed within this project will focus on the pro-active role of individuals and communities in fostering the ecological transition and their economic impact. First, it will identify key factors that favor agents’ engagement, i.e., attract subjects to participate in the ecological transition, individually or in groups. Second, it will provide policy recommendations to make subjects switch from passive to active players in the ecological transition. Third, given that a successful ecological transition requires public support for policies, it will analyze climate change perception and awareness.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Supervisor Antonio Minniti, Stefano Bolatto and Gaetano Alfredo Minerva (DSE)

Introduction

The circular economy model requires a significant shift in our approach to producing and consuming goods and services. Its aim is to promote sustainability by maximizing resource utilization and minimizing waste generation. To ensure the successful implementation of a circular economy, it is essential to understand how businesses can adapt to the evolving landscape. This requires a comprehensive analysis of how structural changes and global dynamics affect their capacity to innovate and move towards a circular economy. By doing so, we can identify both challenges and opportunities, which will help ensure that the transition to this new model is both effective and sustainable.

The role of innovation in the transition to a circular economy

The transition to a circular economy requires significant structural changes, and innovation is essential to driving this transformation. This transition requires a fundamental shift in the way we design, manufacture, consume, and dispose of goods. It means reinventing the entire value chain, from sourcing raw materials to disposing of products at the end of their life cycle. The digital transformation of the production system is a crucial component of innovation. Industry 4.0 technologies, such as the Internet of Things, robotics, and artificial intelligence, are currently being utilized to optimize production processes, minimize waste, and enhance efficiency. The adoption of these technologies represents an opportunity for businesses to develop more sustainable and circular production systems, while abandoning traditional production methods.

Specific research themes

1. Analysis of the determinants of eco-innovation in Southern European Countries
Existing studies analyzing the determinants and obstacles to implementing eco-innovation have primarily relied on data from the German economy. There are very few studies conducted in Southern European countries. It is crucial to address this gap in the literature because the national innovation system, environmental awareness among consumers, and the level of proactivity among businesses towards environmental strategies can vary significantly between Southern European countries and those in the North.

2. Exposure to international trade and eco-innovation
The literature presents conflicting results regarding the relationship between a company's engagement in international trade and its level of eco-innovation. Some studies suggest that eco-innovations may not effectively penetrate new markets, while others indicate that companies with a focus on exporting have a greater chance of developing environmental strategies and engaging in eco-innovation. Therefore, it is important to improve our understanding of this topic by utilizing company-level data from Italy. Compared to other European countries, Italy has a high number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) relative to its level of industrialization. These companies account for just under ninety percent of the Italian workforce. Despite making a significant contribution to the economy, SMEs tend to be underrepresented in international trade, accounting for a relatively small share of exports.

3. Global value chains, SMEs, and green technologies
The rise of global value chains and the process of digitalization present new opportunities for SMEs to integrate into the global economy. A crucial question is to what extent SMEs and entrepreneurs, who are actively involved in the green economy, can capitalize on these opportunities. This topic is relevant because SMEs with environmental expertise have the opportunity to access new markets, in line with the European Union's international commitments in areas such as neighborhood policies and cooperation on climate change.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

• Further info about the project

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Supervisor Pietro Biroli (DSE)

Discrimination has been documented in many settings, from labor markets to access to credit, housing, health services, politics, law enforcement, and many others. We plan to use the tools of economics and data analysis to better understand discrimination in education and human capital formation. Using a combination of secondary data analysis, collection of new surveys, and potentially new interventions targeted at teachers and pupils, we plan to develop a ground-breaking research agenda at the intersection of education economics, labor economics, and gender economics. This PhD position will be at the center of such research, collaborating first-hand on the management of the projects, the data analysis, and the drafting of the papers.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Supervisor Federica Bandini (DiSA)

This project aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of governance and organizational models and measurement and managerial management tools in public services, focusing in particular on performance measurement in social care services.
Through a research approach that can be both qualitative and quantitative, different realities of social services are examined, with special attention to the evaluation of the impact of "project-financing" type governance models.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Supervisor Federica Bandini (DiSA)

This study analyzes governance models and organizational structures in public services, with a focus on public governance models in social and health services. The analysis focuses on the effectiveness of governance, resource allocation and accountability in health and social services.
A key aspect is impact analysis: it evaluates how governance models influence the performance and satisfaction of beneficiary citizens. It involves both the public and non-profit sectors, examining collaboration between the two spheres. This research aims to provide a detailed overview of governance models in health and social services. Qualitative and impact analysis informs policy decisions and improves management in the public and non-profit sectors.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Supervisor Daniela Bolzani (DiSA)

Diversity in business teams and workforces is increasingly relevant in our socio-economic systems. This diversity, detectable both by more visible elements such as sex, ethnicity or race, disability and age, and by more invisible elements such as sexual preferences, religious orientations, social class or level of education, has been widely analyzed by the organizational and management literature. human resources. However, the impact of diversity at the level of participation in decision-making practices at private and public levels is still a fragmented theoretical field. The idea of ​​diversity in entrepreneurship studies is often linked to the connection with local business or innovation systems, but could be linked to initiatives for institutional change or social movement. Using qualitative or quantitative methodologies, the research project will be dedicated to the analysis of participation in forms of entrepreneurship for individuals with different characteristics, trying to grasp the antecedents, processes or impacts of such participation.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Supervisor Ileana Steccolini (DiSA)

Local authorities continually find themselves facing crises of different kinds, which require the development of management tools and logics that are attentive to the sources of vulnerability, and aimed at making the authorities resilient and ready to anticipate and manage future shocks. The research project aims to analyze how the current corporate governance, organization and measurement systems of local authorities contribute to their financial and non-financial resilience. In particular, the analysis will answer the following questions: (i) how can the vulnerability and financial and non-financial resilience of Italian local authorities be measured? (ii) what are the antecedents at a contextual and organizational level? (iii) what are the areas of strength and weakness of Italian local authorities? (iv) how can governance, organization and measurement systems be strengthened to strengthen the resilience of local authorities?

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

The co-creation/co-production paradigm received a great attention in last decades by Public Administration managers, officials, and scholars as a viable tool to overcome the limits of the New Public Management framework. Some scholars recognise that co-creation can be the basis on which building an alternative administration model called New Public Governance. In Italy there are many experiences of what we call “Amministrazione Condivisa” (Shared Administration). The Italian Welfare regime has a long history of relationships between Public Administrations (PA) and citizens. In Italy there many examples of institutional configurations open to the citizens’ participation in the co-design of public services. A PhD Candidate could carry out a research activity aimed at systematically analyzing the co-planning and co-design practices between PA and OTS experienced in our country, possibly focusing on a particular area of welfare policies.

With reference to the introduction of lean management principles and tools also in the public sector.

PA and lean management. In the last three decades, public administration studies have been largely dominated by the debate regarding the New Public Management, as an alternative paradigm to the traditional Weberian bureaucracy. Several scholars invite us to go further, and to search for new models, paths and paradigms to analyze and promote innovation in the PA. There are many suggestions that the principles and tools of lean management should also be applied to the public sector. The PhD project could therefore answer the following questions: where are we with the application of lean techniques in the various sectors of the PA? What experiences are there, in Italy and abroad, of 'lean public management'? How do you evaluate these experiences?

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

In the migration, economic, health/pandemic, educational fields at national, European or global level.

- Environmental standards between European and comparative international law. Environmental protection and the response to climate change represent two crucial challenges for legal systems, which are faced with multi-level responses, involving international, European and national standards. Therefore, research is encouraged as it could answer the following questions, subject to the selection of a specific field: what patterns of convergence and divergence do the different regulatory frameworks exhibit? What contribution can legal comparison make to the circulation of solutions?
- Crisis management: how public administrations face crises and get prepared for them. The experiences of COVID-19 and other disasters (earthquakes, floods, fires, cyber attacks, etc.) that have recently hit our country have reaffirmed the importance, on the part of public institutions, of being ready to face more or less crises less unexpected. Encouraged research activities could answer the following questions: what do the various public administrations actually do (and what should they do) to prevent crises and not be caught unprepared? With what organizational arrangements, resources and decision-making processes do Italian administrations manage unexpected and/or catastrophic events?
- Coordination of European policies. The interdependence between national administrations (and legal systems) and that of the EU is a phenomenon that has long aroused the interest of political science. However, this is a theme that also postulates legal reflections on the regulatory frameworks set up for the management and regulation of relations between ministries, territorial bodies and EU institutions. Possible research insights could answer the following questions, in a comparative perspective: which models have been adopted by the Member States during and after the pandemic crisis? Have there been regulatory reforms? Was there a circulation of models and imitation?
- Challenges and international coordination. Recent migratory, climatic, economic and security challenges have forced reflection efforts on policymakers, officials, experts and civil society more generally on the management of complex phenomena. New forms of coordination have characterized international politics while others are struggling to mature or consolidate. Possible lines of research could consider recent challenges to international politics and coordination dynamics that have emerged, with attention to the actors, their strategies and the weaknesses/criticalities of some adopted approaches.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Implementation structures and evaluation of the interventions in relation to the objectives.

- The right to university study. Inequalities in educational opportunities are still today a widespread phenomenon at all school levels. To counter these inequalities at the tertiary level, policy makers have implemented various programs centered on financial support. Research is encouraged to answer the following questions: what are the channels through which the right to study has a positive effect on academic performance? Can the effects of the right to study be modified by the occurrence of economic crises or pandemics? Does having benefited from the right to study have any effects on the labor market once you have obtained your degree?
- Study abroad. In recent years, various studies have analyzed the effects of studying abroad, and in particular the Erasmus programme, on the formation of a European identity, on academic results or on participation in the labor market, highlighting how the program has substantially had positive effects in several countries with the limit of the risk of exacerbating social inequalities. Less studied is the phenomenon of students who decide to undertake their entire university career in another country or study courses that include semesters abroad. The PhD project could focus on the attempt to analyze the employment returns of these paths abroad trying to draw a link with the literature on transnationalism.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Policy failure and policy success. A rich strand of policy studies has traditionally focused on the failure of public programs. More recently, a line of studies is focussing on public policies considered successful. However, this vast literature does not provide unambiguous indications on the key factors determining the success or failure of a public programme. The PhD project could answer the following questions: what do the policies considered successful have in common? And conversely, what do the public programs that turn out to be a fiasco share? Is there a "special ingredient" that explains the success of policies?

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on this specific topic is guaranteed is one.

Supervisor Carlo Mazzaferro (STAT)

The aging of the population expected in the next few decades in the major economies, including the Italian one, raises numerous questions relating to the design of public pension systems. In particular, the objective of providing adequate services risks coming into conflict with that of economic and financial sustainability. Despite the long series of reforms that have radically changed the structure of the public pension system in Italy since the end of the 1990s, there are still numerous policy actions needed to modernize the system and make it capable of dealing with demographic risks in economy and politics. In this research project the aim is to critically analyze and empirically estimate a battery of financial indicators (NPVR, Internal Rate of Return, Accrual, Coverage Rate, etc..) widely used in the statistical and economic literature and in the debate on economic policy in order to evaluate the characteristics and problems of public and private pension systems. In the empirical part, sectional and longitudinal sample surveys will be used to build representative profiles of individuals belonging to different cohorts in order to model the estimates in relation to the transition to the NDC system and the micro- and macroeconomic impact of shocks on demographic and economic variables.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on a specific topic is guaranteed is indicated one.

Supervisor Luca Trapin (DSE)

Economists and policy analysts commonly resort to quantitative methods to answer policy-relevant questions and support the governance decision-making process. Many of these questions require doing predictions or causal inference on a policy-relevant variable of interest. For example, predicting the distribution of the future growth of a country helps policymakers quantifying the likelihood of risk scenarios, which would serve as a basis for preemptive actions; inferring to what extent a budget cut to a fire department of a municipality reduces its ability to fight wildfires allows policymakers to weigh cost efficiency with the higher chance of economic losses and casualties. This project aims to develop novel statistical methods for prediction or causal inference to answer specific policy-relevant empirical questions. The details of the research agenda will be agreed between the enrolled student and the supervisor, balancing the corresponding methodological and empirical research interests.

The number of doctoral students for whom supervision on a specific topic is guaranteed is one.