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Italian Academics and External Activities: An Ineffective Reform?

Author

Listed:
  • Checchi, Daniele

    (University of Milan)

  • Defraja, Gianni

    (University of Nottigham)

  • Marra, Alfredo

    (University of Milano-Bicocca)

  • Verzillo, Stefano

    (European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC))

Abstract

We investigate the impact of a reform introduced in Italy in 2010 (Law 240/2010, known as the Gelmini reform) that aimed to liberalise external economic activities for academics, whose pay had been effectively frozen for the previous seven years. The reform partially liberalised remunerated external activities while simultaneously restructuring university governance to expand institutional autonomy and strengthen central assessment of academic performance. Using administrative data from a representative sample of Italian academics, we compute both extensive (participation) and intensive (incidence relative to salary) margins of external activities. Our main finding is that the reform did not alter the behaviour of Italian academics. Among the possible explanations, we suggest the substantial leeway to restrict academics' remunerated external activities enjoyed by universities' administration under the new governance framework and the interpretations in the Court of Auditors, which also restricted the range of permissible activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Checchi, Daniele & Defraja, Gianni & Marra, Alfredo & Verzillo, Stefano, 2026. "Italian Academics and External Activities: An Ineffective Reform?," IZA Discussion Papers 18561, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18561
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jacopo Bassetto & Giuseppe Ippedico, 2023. "Can Tax Incentives Bring Brains Back? Returnees Tax Schemes and High-Skilled Migration in Italy," CESifo Working Paper Series 10271, CESifo.
    2. Daniele Checchi & Gianni De Fraja & Stefano Verzillo, 2021. "Incentives and Careers in Academia: Theory and Empirical Analysis," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(4), pages 786-802, October.
    3. Massimiliano Bratti & Cicero Tindaro & Enrico Lippo & Carmela Anna Nappi & Matteo Turri, 2021. "The effect of research evaluation exercises on research output: fifteen years of evidence from Italy," Politica economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 13-42.
    4. Civera, Alice & Lehmann, Erik E & Meoli, Michele & Paleari, Stefano Paleari, 2023. "The Attractiveness of European Higher Education Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Faculty Remuneration and Career Paths," University of California at Berkeley, Center for Studies in Higher Education qt08x00432, Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law

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