Credit access and performance of Italian firms: How relevant is gender

This paper investigates the relationship between firm's structure with its performance besides the interest rates applied by banks; and the gender governance besides firm's profitability and the pricing of credit charged by the banking system. The sample used for this empirical research consists of 219 Italian firms and it was analysed during the 2013-2016 period. Employing a two-phases quantitative method, our study finds that there are important elements (both in terms of corporate structure and gender governance) that impact on the corporate performance and the pricing of credit firms pay when they succeed in borrowing.