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The Brain Drain of Italians: Are the Southern Regions Doomed?

Author

Listed:
  • Roberto Basile

    (Sapienza Università di Roma – Dipartimento di Studi Giuridici ed Economici)

  • Francesca Licari

    (Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT))

  • Francesca Centofanti

    (Università di Roma “Tor Vergataâ€)

  • Cinzia Castagnaro

    (Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT))

  • Elena Ambrosetti

    (Sapienza Università di Roma – DIEM)

Abstract

This paperprovidesnewevidenceonthebraindraininItaly.Buildingontheframeworkproposed by Becker,Ichino,andPeri (2004), wemeasurebraindrainthroughacomprehensivesetofindica- tors. Unlikepreviousstudies,weaccountforreturnmigration—notjustemigration—ofItalians and assessbraindrainasthenetlossofhumancapital.Wealsoexploretheinterplaybetweenin- ternational andinternalmigration,withparticularattentiontotheoutflowofhigh-skilledworkers from SoutherntoNorthernItaly.Thefindingsshowthat,overtheperiod2013–2023,themigra- tion ofhighlyqualifiedyouthfromtheSouthtotheNorthmorethanoffsettheinternationalbrain drain affectingtheNorth,whilesignificantlydeepeningthehumancapitaldepletionintheSouth. Finally,weexploitnewdataontheeducationalattainmentofforeignimmigrants,assessingtheir contributiontothedynamicsofhumancapitalatbothnationalandregionallevel.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Basile & Francesca Licari & Francesca Centofanti & Cinzia Castagnaro & Elena Ambrosetti, "undated". "The Brain Drain of Italians: Are the Southern Regions Doomed?," Public Finance Research Papers 76, Istituto di Economia e Finanza, DSGE, Sapienza University of Rome.
    • Handle: RePEc:gfe:pfrp00:00076
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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