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Earnings dynamics and labor market reforms: The Italian case

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  • Eran B. Hoffmann
  • Davide Malacrino
  • Luigi Pistaferri

Abstract

This paper summarizes statistics on the key aspects of the distribution of earnings levels and earnings changes using administrative (social security) data from Italy between 1985 and 2016. During the time covered by our data, earnings inequality and earnings volatility increased, while earnings mobility did not change significantly. We connect these trends with some salient facts about the Italian labor market, in particular the labor market reforms of the 1990s and 2000s, which induced a substantial rise in fixed‐term and part‐time employment. The rise in part‐time work explains much of the rise in earnings inequality, while the rise in fixed‐term contracts explains much of the rise in volatility. Both of these trends affect the earnings distribution through hours worked: part‐time jobs reduce hours worked within a week, while fixed‐term contracts reduce the number of weeks worked during the year as well as increase their volatility. We only find weak evidence that fixed‐term contracts represent a “stepping‐stone” to permanent employment. Finally, we offer suggestive evidence that the labor market reforms contributed to the slowdown in labor productivity in Italy by delaying human capital accumulation (in the form of general and firm‐specific experience) of recent cohorts.

Suggested Citation

  • Eran B. Hoffmann & Davide Malacrino & Luigi Pistaferri, 2022. "Earnings dynamics and labor market reforms: The Italian case," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(4), pages 1637-1667, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:quante:v:13:y:2022:i:4:p:1637-1667
    DOI: 10.3982/QE1865
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Giulia Bovini & Emanuele Ciani & Marta De Philippis & Stefania Romano, 2023. "Labour income inequality and in-work poverty: a comparison between euro area countries," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 806, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    2. Mussida, Chiara & Zanin, Luca, 2023. "Asymmetry and (in-)stability of Okun’s coefficients in nine European countries," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 28(C).
    3. Francis Kramarz & Elio Nimier‐David & Thomas Delemotte, 2022. "Inequality and earnings dynamics in France: National policies and local consequences," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(4), pages 1527-1591, November.
    4. Bertrand Garbinti & Cecilia García Peñalosa & Vladimir Pecheu & Frédérique Savignac, 2023. "Trends and Inequality in Lifetime Earnings in France," Working papers 925, Banque de France.
    5. Domenico Depalo & Salvatore Lattanzio, 2023. "The increase in earnings inequality and volatility in Italy: the role and persistence of atypical contracts," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 801, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    6. Carreño Bustos, José Gabo, 2023. "Flexible Contracts as Business Cycle Stabilizers," Discussion Paper 2023-007, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    7. Søren Leth‐Petersen & Johan Sæverud, 2022. "Inequality and dynamics of earnings and disposable income in Denmark 1987–2016," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(4), pages 1493-1526, November.
    8. Fatih Guvenen & Luigi Pistaferri & Giovanni L. Violante, 2022. "Global trends in income inequality and income dynamics: New insights from GRID," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(4), pages 1321-1360, November.
    9. Elin Halvorsen & Serdar Ozkan & Sergio Salgado, 2022. "Earnings dynamics and its intergenerational transmission: Evidence from Norway," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(4), pages 1707-1746, November.

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