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International Mobility of Students in Italy and the UK: Does It Pay off and for Whom?

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  • Schnepf, Sylke V.

    (European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre)

  • d'Hombres, Beatrice

    (European Commission)

Abstract

International student mobility is the most recognised element of Erasmus+, a major EU policy. Not enough is known about the causal effect of studying abroad on labour market outcomes. This is because most of the existing studies dismiss selection bias: the different composition of students opting and not opting for studying abroad. The purpose of this paper is to answer the following three questions, whilst accounting for selection bias. First, does international student mobility (ISM) have an effect on labour market outcomes? Second, do the returns to ISM vary between two countries with contrasting labour market and education systems? Third, do the returns to ISM differ according to the socio-economic background of the students? Results are compared between Italy and the UK using Italian Institute of National Statistics and UK Higher Education Statistics Agency graduate survey data. Using propensity score matching, the returns to study-related stays abroad are estimated on a set of labour market outcomes around six to twelve months and three years after graduation for undergraduates (UK and Italy) and postgraduates (Italy only). Results indicate that mobility is positively associated with some outcome variables under scrutiny. Mobile graduates seem to benefit from better employment chances than non-mobile graduates. Returns to ISM tend to be slightly higher among graduates in Italy. Mobility seems to matter most for uptake and completion of further post-graduate studies in Italy. It is the especially the socially disadvantaged mobile who opt for further education after graduation.

Suggested Citation

  • Schnepf, Sylke V. & d'Hombres, Beatrice, 2018. "International Mobility of Students in Italy and the UK: Does It Pay off and for Whom?," IZA Discussion Papers 12033, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giorgio Di Pietro, 2015. "Do Study Abroad Programs Enhance the Employability of Graduates?," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 10(2), pages 223-243, March.
    2. Matthias Parey & Fabian Waldinger, 2011. "Studying Abroad and the Effect on International Labour Market Mobility: Evidence from the Introduction of ERASMUS," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(551), pages 194-222, March.
    3. Marco Caliendo & Sabine Kopeinig, 2008. "Some Practical Guidance For The Implementation Of Propensity Score Matching," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 31-72, February.
    4. Schnepf, Sylke, 2018. "Unequal uptake of higher education mobility in the UK. The importance of social segregation in universities and subject areas," JRC Working Papers in Economics and Finance 2018-06, Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
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    1. Giorgio Di Pietro, 2019. "University study abroad and graduates’ employability," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 109-109, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labour market outcomes; mobility abroad; international student mobility; propensity score matching; Italy; UK;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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