Abstract In recent times the economic conditions of working women have substantially improved in many aspects. On the new international policy agenda we now find the increase in both female employment and participation. Nevertheless, isolated policy measures can prove ineffective or even deteriorating, if not balanced with local needs and planning strategies. Several studies (i.e. Del Boca & Wetzels, 2007) have recently shown that surrounding institutional context significantly affects market participation and performance of female workers, or more generally parents (ILO, 2008). This paper will attempt to cast some light on the determinants of existing gaps in the supply of employment (and social) policy measures offered by some (Nordic) countries compared to other (Southern) countries, arguing how the crucial issue shared by many EU members is not (only) the reduction of unemployment or the increase in employment for women, but (also) the enforcement of the principle of non discrimination through increased participation and a new approach to potential relation between female work and innovation in technologies as well as in management. Keywords: labour market; female employment; innovation; discrimination. JEL Classification Codes: F15; I28; J13, J22, J71

Europe has become the first continent of attraction for migrants and is also the first continent as for incidence of the population emigrated to the total of population. In Italy, in particular, the foreign population has grown from 2000 to 2013 at an average rate of 10% per annum. This scenario, plus the emergence of immigrant landings on the Italian coast as a point of arrival but also as a point of departure to other European countries, leads to awareness of the need for answers, not only at the Italian institutional level but also within a European convergence framework, in the search of policies and programs most appropriate to a new social context, strongly characterized by the presence of the immigrant population

Abstract The purpose of this contribution is to discuss the economic performance of non-EU Balkans countries compared to the European Union and some selected other countries of the Mediterranean Basin over the period 1999-2008. The idea is to highlight different paths of convergence to the European Union of different groups of countries interacting with the EU for different purposes (access versus partnership). We also try and make an attempt to assess roughly the different policy strategies to evaluate the stimula and obstacles to endogenous growth given to Balkans countries through the Process of Stabilisation and Association.