Research and Projects

Although there is broad agreement about the need for policies to reduce gender inequality in the labor market, quotas remain controversial. When individuals are provided with information about how gender quotas function to reduce gender inequalities in top positions, does it influence their attitudes and support? While past studies show that information can shift opinions, we know little about how different information interacts with preexisting beliefs on what causes inequality.

Using a survey experiment conducted among Italian workers and managers (N=2404), our experiment features two distinct information treatments: one highlighting quotas’ ability to address demand-side factors, such as discrimination (demand treatment), and another focusing on supply-side issues, such as underconfidence (supply treatment). We assess how these narratives interact with participants' prior beliefs about the magnitude and origins of gender inequalities, including cultural stereotypes, traditional gender norms, differences in abilities, and issues related to work-life balance.

Findings reveal a say-do gap between self-reported support for gender quotas and ``concrete" behavioral support, measured by willingness to donate to an NGO advocating for quotas. While the information treatments do not significantly influence the likelihood of donating, the amount donated is higher for participants exposed to the supply-side framing. This effect is particularly pronounced among individuals with less specific pre-existing beliefs about the causes of gender inequality. These results highlight the role of targeted information in shaping not only attitudes, but also the intensity of behavioral support for gender quotas, offering insights into the mechanisms driving public endorsement of policy interventions.

Can reactionary leaders transform latent social divisions into political cleavages by mobilizing moral panics? I study the case of Phyllis Schlafly’s STOP-ERA campaign (1972–1982), which played a central role in organizing opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States. Using a newly constructed dataset on Schlafly’s appearances across U.S. counties, I exploit variation in campaign exposure to examine its impact on voting behavior and public opinion. Findings show that local exposure to the campaign increased Republican vote share, and shifted beliefs toward more anti-feminists sentiments. Analysis of the mechanism suggest that moral panics can contribute to the transformation of political cleavages by aligning cultural conservatism with partisan identity.