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Milan, March 14 2022 – This year there are two ex aequo winners of the Giovanni Marra Prize, intended by the Municipality of Milan for degree or doctoral theses on the subject of social reporting, in memory of the president of the city council who passed away in 2004.

The 5 thousand euro award was won by Laura Mazzola, researcher in Economics and Business Law at the University of Bergamo and Giulia Napolitano, recent graduate in Business Economics at the Federico II University of Naples.

The awards ceremony was held this morning in the Clock Room Palazzo Marino in the presence of the judging commission and Marra's brother, Angelo. The president of the City Council Elena Buscemi and the councilor for Economic Development and Labor Policies Alessia Cappello presented the certificates.

"I am happy to present for the first year as president of the City Council the prize that we dedicate to theses centered on themes in which Marra strongly believed – said Buscemi –. He was a positive example of an approach to politics, a man open to discussion and who knew how to grasp new ideas for the city in the dialogue. The themes addressed in the theses that we are awarding today are particularly current and demonstrate how important it is to know how to read the elements of society and indicate ways to reduce inequalities".

"The Municipality of Milan – said Cappello – was a pioneer in adopting the Social Report thanks to Marra, a man who paved the way, left a mark and set an example for young people. My invitation to them is to commit to build their future and that of everyone, especially in such a difficult moment for them. There are young people who have extinguished their dreams and ambitions: continue to believe in them, raise your heads and build your future, even for a city that I hope. continue to give you many opportunities."

Laura Mazzola's doctoral thesis has as its theme "Poverty and sustainable development objectives: the role of accounting and accountability in the governance of interventions to combat poverty", with an "appreciable critical reflection on the concept of sustainability applied to development human", we read in the reasons for the award and a "field analysis of interventions to combat poverty in local and national contexts".

Giulia Napolitano's degree thesis focuses on "The integration of the principles of sustainability in the banking sector: the case of Banca Popolare Etica", addressing "with methodological solidity, clarity and depth one of the central challenges for creating a model of sustainable development, that is, being able to direct capital flows, investments and resources towards responsible projects and businesses".