Titolo della tesi: Population aging and labor supply: the impact of pension reforms and immigrant labor in the italian labor market
This dissertation explores critical aspects of immigration and pension reforms and their
influence on labor market dynamics in Italy.
The first chapter examines the demographic shift in Italy from a nation of emigration
to one of significant immigration, with a focus on the socio-economic impacts on native
labor market participation. Using data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics
(ISTAT), it analyzes the regional distribution and occupational integration of immigrants,
emphasizing challenges arising from differing statistical definitions of ”immigrant” and the
implications for policy. Findings reveal significant geographic and sectoral concentration
of immigrants, particularly in manual labor sectors in northern Italy, underscoring the
varied impact on native employment and wages across regions.
The second chapter investigates how increased immigration affects labor market par-
ticipation and retirement among Italian women aged 55 to 65. The analysis centers on
the period from 2007 to 2017, marked by a surge of Romanian immigrants following EU
enlargement. This study explores whether Romanian immigrants, particularly employed
in elderly caregiving roles, substitute for Italian women in family caregiving responsibili-
ties, thereby influencing their employment and retirement decisions. Results indicate that
higher concentrations of Romanian immigrants are associated with lower retirement rates
and higher employment among Italian women, especially among unmarried women with
elderly dependents, with effects most pronounced in central Italy.
The third chapter evaluates the unintended consequences of the Monti-Fornero pen-
sion reform, which unexpectedly raised retirement age thresholds, on the labor market
trajectories of young women whose mothers were directly affected by the reform. Utilizing
detailed administrative data, the analysis reveals that daughters of women impacted by
the reform demonstrate lower employment levels and reduced wages, with effects more
acute for women with lower education and income levels. Together, these studies offer
a nuanced understanding of how immigration and pension policy reforms interact with
labor market and social structures, providing insights for future policy interventions that
balance economic needs with social support systems.