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The Direct Employment Impact of Public Investment

Author

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  • Marian Moszoro

Abstract

We evaluate the direct employment effect of the public investment in key infrastructure—electricity, roads, schools and hospitals, and water and sanitation. Using rich firm-level panel data from 41 countries over 19 years, we estimate that US$1 million of public spending in infrastructure create 3–7 jobs in advanced economies, 10–17 jobs in emerging market economies, and 16–30 jobs in low-income developing countries. As a comparison, US$1 million public spending on R&D yields 5–11 jobs in R&D in OECD countries. Green investment and investment with a larger R&D component deliver higher employment effect. Overall, we estimate that one percent of global GDP in public investment can create more than seven million jobs worldwide through its direct employment effects alone.

Suggested Citation

  • Marian Moszoro, 2021. "The Direct Employment Impact of Public Investment," IMF Working Papers 2021/131, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2021/131
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    Cited by:

    1. Asuamah Yeboah, Samuel, 2024. "Bridging the Gap: Public-Private Partnerships in Sustainable Building for Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 122643, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 Oct 2024.
    2. Maria Cristina Barbieri Góes & Giovanna Ciaffi & Santiago José Gahn, 2025. "Le grandi Opere Pubbliche: fiscal multipliers of public infrastructure in Italy (1870–1998)," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 42(1), pages 155-180, April.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures

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