This paper investigates whether adult proficiency formation is affected by social environments. Using the Italian sample of the ALL survey conducted in 2003, which includes cohorts born between 1938 and 1988, we exploit temporal and regional variations in indicators of women empowerment to...

The expansion of higher education since the second half of the 20th century was particularly pronounced among women. In most high-income countries to date more women complete a tertiary level than men. But research on the implications of higher education expansion for labour income inequality...