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Why Do People from Southern Italy Seek Jobs in the Public Sector?

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  • Laura Pagani

Abstract

This paper analyses the choice open to a worker seeking a job in the public and private sectors of the labour market. The private sector is identified by a steeper wage profile and by lower job security than the public sector. The reservation wage for the two sectors is calculated in the first part of the paper. The results reveal that the reservation wage for the public sector is higher than that for the private sector. The effect of career prospects, job riskiness and labour demand on optimal time allocation between the search in the two sectors is then analysed. Finally, an empirical analysis is made in order to study Italian workers’ search strategies. It highlights relevant geographical differences which can be interpreted through the theoretical results obtained in the paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Pagani, 2003. "Why Do People from Southern Italy Seek Jobs in the Public Sector?," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 17(1), pages 63-91, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:labour:v:17:y:2003:i:1:p:63-91
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-9914.00222
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steven F. Venti, 1987. "Wages in the Federal and Private Sectors," NBER Chapters, in: Public Sector Payrolls, pages 147-182, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. David A. Wise, 1987. "Public Sector Payrolls," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number wise87-1.
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    Cited by:

    1. Terhi Maczulskij, 2024. "Occupational Mobility of Routine Workers," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 86(5), pages 1198-1229, October.
    2. Zhuravleva, Tatiana (Журавлева, Татьяна), 2015. "Analysis of the Factors of Wages Differentiation in the Public and Private Sectors of the Russian Economy [Анализ Факторов Дифференциации Заработной Платы В Государственном И Частном Секторах Эконо," Published Papers mn10, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    3. Maczulskij, Terhi, 2013. "Employment sector and pay gaps: Genetic and environmental influences," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 89-96.
    4. Terhi Maczulskij, 2015. "High education and public sector employment: Evidence from Finland using data on twins," Working Papers 296, Työn ja talouden tutkimus LABORE, The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE.
    5. Terhi Maczulskij, 2015. "Who chooses to become a public sector employee?," Working Papers 301, Työn ja talouden tutkimus LABORE, The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE.
    6. Laura Cavalli, 2012. "Fertility Intentions of Employed Mothers in Italy: Does the Choice of Public versus Private Sector Matter?," Working Papers 27/2012, University of Verona, Department of Economics.
    7. Luigi Bonaventura & Andrea Consoli & Matteo Richiardi & Salvo Spagano, 2006. "Politics and the Labor Market: The Role of Frictions," LABORatorio R. Revelli Working Papers Series 53, LABORatorio R. Revelli, Centre for Employment Studies.
    8. Maczulskij, Terhi, 2013. "Public–private sector wage differentials and the business cycle," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 284-301.

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