Fabrizio Botti

The Gendered Nature of Poverty in the EU: Individualized versus Collective Poverty Measures

ABSTRACT Due to the adoption of the household as a unit of analysis, researchers have failed to identify accurate measures of womens income poverty. This study proposes an individualized measure of European poverty to highlight gender differences in the economic crisis. Employing data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) for the period 2007–12, it compares the household-based at-risk-of-poverty rate (ARPR) and the individualized financial dependency rate (FDR). The study shows that the gender gap in poverty in Europe is considerably higher when computed through FDR. Indeed, since the ARPR constitutes a proxy of the households average conditions, it levels down gender inequalities within the household and also variations in individuals’ incomes over time. Only more detailed data collection on intrahousehold resource sharing will possibly allow the development of more precise and realistic indicators of womens and mens risks of poverty and financial dependency.

A test of the rational expectations hypothesis using data from a natural experiment

Data on contestants’ choices in Italian Game Show Affari Tuoi are analysed in a way that separates the effect of risk attitude (preferences) from that of beliefs concerning the amount of money that will be offered to contestants in future rounds. This separate identification is possible by virtue of the fact that, at a certain stage of the game, beliefs are not relevant, and risk attitude is the sole determinant of choice. The rational expectations hypothesis is tested by comparing the estimated belief function with the ‘true’ offer function which is estimated extraneously using data on offers actually made to contestants. We find a close correspondence, leading us to accept the rational expectations hypothesis. The importance of belief formation is confirmed by the estimation of a mixture model which establishes that the vast majority of contestants are forward looking as opposed to myopic.

Sex Work among Trans People: Evidence from Southern Italy

ABSTRACT This study attempts to empirically investigate the determinants of the supply side of sex work beyond the dichotomy between coerced and freewill participation. It does so by focusing on a very stigmatized and discriminated-against population: transsexual and transgender people. We collected original data on trans people through nonrandom sampling within a study aimed at assessing gender-identity discrimination in Italy. A multivariate analysis of the determinants of falling into sex work confirms that within the trans population, “pull” factors – specifically, prospective income – positively affect the decision to supply sex services. Even more relevant are “push” factors, such as low employability and past experiences of discrimination. The resulting sex-work trap calls for policy initiatives to enhance the employability of marginalized individuals as well as an effective fight against stigma and discrimination in the labor market.