Interest in questions of gender has grown in the course of time, and the literature has come to question the motivations that should make or do make public administrations sensitive to the issue of gender equality. The correlation between public finance and gender has been investigated in the economic approach, a central issue being the assessment of gender policy outcomes at the aggregate level of regional, national and international economies. However, gender issues can also be considered within the context of individual organizations.
In relation to individual organizations, the contribution to current debate of the Italian School of Economia Aziendale (Business Management) is particularly significant. The Italian approach proposes a shift of perspective, from a conception of gender policies in the public sector as a cost or a generic duty towards equality, to a view of such policies as an activity necessary to ensure that each public agency responds effectively to the needs of its target community.
This paper emphasizes how the Italian School of Economia Aziendale (Business Management) can add to international debate by examining gender issues from two angles: the objectives pursued by public agencies (the efficacy of gender policies) and the measurement of outcomes (the efficiency of gender policies).
