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Do Reforms Aimed at Reducing Time to Graduation Work? Evidence from the Italian Higher Education System

Author

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  • Davide Malacrino
  • Samuel Nocito
  • Raffaele Saggio

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of a reform aimed at expediting graduation times in Italian universities by reducing the number of exams students must pass to obtain the fixed number of credits required to graduate. Using event-study estimates that leverage the reform's staggered implementation, we find that this policy change led to an increase in on-time graduation rates but also resulted in a decreased probability of employment one-year post-graduation. However, this negative effect reverses into a positive one in the medium run. We show that these patterns are explained by students using the time gained from earlier graduation to pursue additional educational qualifications in the year following graduation.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Malacrino & Samuel Nocito & Raffaele Saggio, 2025. "Do Reforms Aimed at Reducing Time to Graduation Work? Evidence from the Italian Higher Education System," CESifo Working Paper Series 11979, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11979
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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