Italian Regional Data Research Articles

Longevity risk analysis: applications to the Italian regional data

<abstract><p>Longevity risk is the risk that members of a given population will live longer than expected. When it occurs, pension providers may have to pay pensions for longer than expected, significantly increasing their costs. While this risk is being adequately studied using the national mortality data provided by the Human Mortality Database, relatively few studies exist that analyse sub-national data. This manuscript proposes a comparative study of some stochastic mortality models to measure the longevity risk on Italian mortality data at the regional level. In particular, the use of the Lee-Carter and Li-Lee models is explored. The models are compared in fitting quality, forecasting accuracy and complexity. Numerical experiments and applications to immediate life annuity evaluation are presented.</p></abstract>

Corruption and tax revenues: Evidence from Italian regions

AbstractThis paper investigates the impact of corruption on tax revenues. Drawing on Italian regional data that distinguish between corruption crimes in which public officers play an active role (active corruption) and crimes in which there is collusion between the public officers and their private counterparts (passive corruption), the paper shows that only active corruption harms tax revenues. We argue that active corruption alters the incentives for honest taxpayers, leading to inefficiencies and a greater distance between citizens and public authorities, because it generates uncooperative public administration and reduces the perceived fairness of public systems. The estimates confirm the hypothesis and the results call for greater attention to be paid to the quality of public administration.

Does national environmental regulation promote convergence in separate waste collection? Evidence from Italy

In the European Union, which is increasingly oriented towards environmentally sustainable development, separate waste collection plays a crucial role. Over the years, the EU has produced several guidelines, programmes and directives aimed to build a green society and tone down the differences between, as well as within, Member States. In Italy, the waste management system is currently regulated by Legislative Decree 152/2006, through which European directives have been incorporated into the Italian law. The existing literature has focused on the effects of L.D. 152/2006 on Separate Waste Collection (SWC) rates; however, there are not previous studies on the effects of this decree on growth rates and on convergence process among regions in terms of SWC and its items (i.e., organic, plastic, paper, and glass). This paper aims to fill these gaps. For this purpose, we implement β- and σ-convergence analysis based on Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) on official Italian regional data over the period 2001–2018. Results show that Legislative Decree 152/2006 has two contrasting effects: on the one hand, it helped increase separate waste collection; on the other hand, it slowed down the convergence process in terms of separate waste collection among the Italian regions. However, the convergence process is characterised by different speeds across Italian macro-areas (Northern, Central, and Southern Italy), highlighting a three-speed country. To foster convergence, the national legislation should consider regional differences in terms of economic, infrastructural, institutional, social, and demographic characteristics.

A missing link? Cultural capital as a source of human capital: evidence from Italian regional data

We apply a 2SLS approach to panel data from Italian regions, 2004–2014, to investigate the relationship between cultural and human capital. We find that cultural participation, as a proxy of cultural capital, has positive impact on two proxies of human capital, tertiary education and lifelong learning. Due to structural differences between North Central and Southern Italy, we separately analyse the two macro-regions, highlighting differences in cultural participation and human capital endowment, finding positive relations between the two types of capital in all areas. The relationship between cultural and human capital is mediated by the heterogeneity of regional socio-economic orientations towards education, learning, and cultural participation.

Voluntary work and cultural capital: an exploratory analysis for Italian regional data

This paper addresses the relationship between voluntary work and cultural capital, providing a conceptual framework by moving from a cultural economics standpoint to a relational goods theory approach. The two main hypotheses relate to a positive relationship between cultural capital and voluntary work and a significant relationship between relational cultural goods and voluntary work. We corroborate these assumptions empirically by applying a two-stage least squares regression to Italian data at the regional level. The data are drawn from official sources and cover 20 Italian regions over the span of 2005–2013. The results show that volunteering is stimulated by cultural participation in more niche cultural goods and is shared by individuals with some knowledge and human and artistic sensitivity. Moreover, the consumption of specific cultural goods with a strong relational component, such as museums, exhibitions and theatre, has a significant impact on volunteer activity.

Estimating Sourcing Premia Using Italian Regional Data

Abstract This paper explores the link between sourcing and performance for a representative sample of manufacturing firms located in Lombardy, which is the leading region of the Italian economy. The survey estimation methods that we applied to our original database reveal certain performance premia for firms that engage in foreign rather than domestic sourcing and in- rather than outsourcing. This result is robust to different specifications, samples, performance measures, and definitions of sourcing strategies.

Speculation on a Flexicurity Index for Disabled People: The Italian Case

The aim of this paper is to analyze a flexicurity index for disabled people by using Italian regional data. To this purpose, the empirical results are based on a composite index denoted as Mazziotta-Pareto Index. Our results show that Northern Italy regions show a higher flexicurity degree than Southern Italy ones. In addition, by estimating an augmented matching function, we verify that flexicurity increases the probability of finding employment for a disabled person. In particular, we test that the flexicurity indicator that gives more weight to the economic independence of disabled people represents the indicator that most favors the labour matching process.

An Analysis of Italian Regional Social Expenditure on Disability and Other Social Measures: A Spatial Econometric Approach

The aim of this work is to implement a convergence analysis of social expenditure on disability and other social measures (e.g. families and children, disabled people, substances, old age, immigrants and nomadic people, poverty adult problems and homelessness, multineeds, total), taking into account spatial effects. To this purpose, we develop a two-step analysis focusing on Italian regional data for the period 2003–2008. In the first phase, we perform a descriptive analysis and a joint application of a measure of inequality and of the degree of spatial autocorrelation. We subsequently apply the beta and sigma convergence analysis to per capita expenses on social issues, with special emphasis on expenses on disability, broadly defined. The results show that Italian regions do tend to converge in total, and also specific items of per capita social expenditures. In addition, we observe that the discrepancy among per capita expenditures for social actions and services have not been reduced over time, and that spatial effects differ according to the various types of social expenses. Policy considerations are discussed.

Does flexicurity promote the employment of disabled people? A panel analysis for Italian regional data

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of flexicurity upon regional labour market performance in the employment of disabled people. To this purpose, we implement a static model, via 2SLS, and a dynamic model, via GMM-system, on Italian regions for the period 2006–2011. Our results show a failure of flexicurity for people with disabilities in terms of policy, it is important to promote more flexibility in the laws governing the employment of disabled people and in contributory benefits transfer programmes. Moreover, it is necessary to promote policy actions aimed at supporting private firms in their production process.

Flexicurity Index for Disabled People: A Spatial Approach

In this paper we propose a two step analysis. In the first phase, we introduce a flexicurity index for disabled people by using Italian regional data; then, we apply the local Moran transition probability matrix to the flexicurity index in order to evaluate the presence of spatio-temporal persistence in its distribution. The results show that Northern Italy regions have a higher degree of flexicurity than Southern Italy ones. The low level of flexicurity is a consequence of the high concentration of civilian disability pensions among people in working age (passive measure). In addition, we show that the persistence of regional dualism, in terms of flexicurity, can be reduced through income support tools that are different from passive measure and are characterized by more flexibility in their allocation process.

Estimating Sourcing Premia with Italian Regional Data

Estimating Sourcing Premia with Italian Regional Data

Epidemiology of heart failure

Heart failure is a common and clinically relevant disease, whose prevalence is progressively increasing with the ageing of the population and the improvement in treatments. Within this condition, acute heart failure (AHF) has at present the higher burden on mortality and hospitalization rates. This results from both suboptimal management and difficulties in estimating the actual frequency of AHF. This paper is focused on AHF epidemiology based on reliable Italian national and regional data.

What are the main explanations of occupational diseases and accidents at work in the agricultural sector? A panel analysis for Italian regional data

The aim of this paper is to investigate the causes of occupational diseases and accidents at work (ODA) in the Italian agricultural sector. To this end, we proceed with a two-stage analysis of Italian regional data for the period 1976–2004. The first phase of the analysis shows that in the Italian agricultural sector productivity Granger-causes ODA, and not vice versa. The results of the econometric estimates in the second stage of the analysis show that an increase in “productivity pressure” (associated with an increase in production rhythms) will produce, in the long run, an increase in accidents on less serious ODA (or temporary ODA); the same effect will not be observed on the more serious ODA (or permanent ODA). We verify how pro work legislation reduces ODA and how this effect is strengthened in the long-run. In addition, we observe that in the long-run the increase in the “pressure on workers” (associated with a high unemployment rate and a high probability of being fired) is the main cause of the increase in less and more serious ODA.

Can the Augmented Solow Model with Migration Explain the Italian Internal Brain Drain?

AbstractWe extend the Dolado et al. (1994) model to both inflows and outflows of migrants and assume that they have a human capital endowment that contributes to increase/decrease the stock of human capital in the receiving/sending economy. We derive the conditional convergence equation in which the impact of migration flows on the growth rate is disentangled in a pure quantity effect and in a quality or composition effect of immigration and emigration rates that accounts for the relative human capital endowment of migrants with respect to resident population. Next, we test the model with Italian regional data for the 1970–2005 time period. We find that the model provides a good explanation of the Italian experience. The quantity effect is negative for the immigration rate and positive for the emigration rate, whereas the composition effect is positive for immigration and negative for emigration. Finally, we separate the centre‐north from the south and find that the composition effect of emigration is stronger for the latter. We interpret these results as a clear evidence of a brain drain from the Mezzogiorno to the centre‐northern regions.

MIGRATION FLOWS, STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND GROWTH CONVERGENCE: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS OF THE ITALIAN REGIONS*

The aim of this paper is to measure the impact of migration flows on growth via their effect on structural change. To this extent we build an empirical growth model in which migration flows and intersectoral wage differentials can affect the speed of labour readjustment between sectors and, ultimately, total factor productivity and growth. By employing Italian regional data stemming over more than four decades we measure the effects of interregional migration on regional growth and convergence. The results confirm that migration in general, and in particular the content of human capital of moving workers, is a relevant factor in determining the speed of technological change and growth.

The impact of the Single Farm Payments on the expenditure on fertilizers and crop protection inputs: a comparative study of the Italian agriculture

Abstract The Mid Term Review (MTR) of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2003 sped up the process of policy reforms toward decoupled payments in order to urge agricultural production to respond to market signals. However, since the elimination of coupled subsidies could produce a shift in commodity relative prices and decoupled payments could generate “coupled” effects on production, it remains questionable how Single Farm Payment (SFP) alters agricultural intensification. Therefore, through a comparative statistical analysis applied on Italian FADN regional data, this article aims at evaluating whether the MTR had positive impacts on the aggregate expenditure on fertilizers and crop protection inputs. From the results, it is observed that the expansion of profitable crops like vegetables, flowers, and vineyards, along with the receipt of SFP increased the expenditure of fertilizers and crop protection inputs. Such findings suggest that the MTR has been so far effective in terms of aligning ...

Openness and income disparities: does trade explain the “Mezzogiorno effect”?

We use Italian regional data to answer the question whether trade affects within-country income differentials. In Italy, the more affluent Northern regions trade more with the rest of the world than the poorer ones in the Southern “Mezzogiorno” regions. Prima facie, there is a positive correlation between external trade and per capita income. Studying this relationship empirically requires taking into account the endogenous component of trade. We argue that panel cointegration models can complement instrumental variables techniques to account for the endogeneity of trade in a panel context. Both methods show a positive link between trade openness and the level of income per capita.

Municipal Waste Production, Economic Drivers, and 'New' Waste Policies: EKC Evidence from Italian Regional and Provincial Panel Data

This paper provides empirical evidence on delinking and Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for municipal waste production in Italy. First, methodological issues and literature on delinking and EKC for waste are critically re-examined. Secondly, we analyse two very disaggregated panel datasets on Italian Regions and Provinces (1996-2004 data for the 20 regions, 2000-2004 data for the 103 provinces) to estimate the extent to which delinking between waste production and economic drivers is taking place. The empirical analysis of different specifications shows mixed evidence in favour of an EKC relationship. Evidence supporting an EKC hypothesis significantly arises at a provincial level, which presents a very high data heterogeneity. Nevertheless, the turning point is at very high levels of added value per capita (around 23,000-26,000€), which characterise a very limited number of wealthy (Northern) Italian provinces. The analysis does not reveal a similar evidence for the regional dataset: only a relative delinking dynamic emerges at the provincial level, we also note a positive relationship between waste production and the share of separated waste collection, which can be explained by the sharp difference in income and waste-policy performance between Northern and Southern Italy. Population density is not significant. Finally, the test on some policy proxies, i.e. the diffusion of the new waste tariff regime at the local-level and the ability of utilities to recover waste service cost, leads to the conclusion that they are not (yet) impacting waste production. To lower the turning points and to avoid an increasing gap between geographical areas, innovative (market based) and more effective policy instruments should be implemented. In particular, the weight of waste policies should be rebalanced towards waste prevention targets and instruments, in line with the priorities stated by the EU and Member Countries. In fact, the indirect feedback effect of good post-production waste management policies/practices on reducing waste production at a source can be weak and slow. In general, the results confirm that more geographically-disaggregated data may offer more insights with respect to cross-country datasets, also from the policy perspective.

A Poverty Trap of Crime and Unemployment

AbstractWe present an overlapping generation growth model with an imperfect labor market where the links among crime, growth and unemployment are jointly considered, both in an endogenous and exogenous set‐up. We test the major implications of our theory and verify the two model specifications through the Italian regional data, using the Pooled Mean Group estimator proposed by Pesaran, Shin and Smith (1999). The empirical results are in favor of the exogenous version of the model and suggest that crime and unemployment have long‐run income level effects.

The Determinants of Public Pharmaceutical Expenditures: Does Italian Health Federalism Impact on Them?

Public drug expenditures increased markedly in recent years across Italian Regions and they have become an important issue in the debate on health care cost containment. This paper uses Italian regional data to investigate the determinants of pharmaceutical expenditures. The study differs from previous studies in two principal ways. First, it uses a somewhat larger sample for estimation, with pooled time-series, cross-section data for 20 regions for a 9-year period. Most previous works have used a purely cross-section approach: in this case, the small sample size reduces the statistical reliability of results and limited the number of hypotheses that can be tested simultaneously. Secondly, and following from this, a more extensive range of hypotheses is tested over the period 2001-2003, with particular emphasis on those relating to the relations between national and local measures to control pharmaceutical expenditures and drug consumption. The findings show that the use of co-payments (user charges) and direct distribution result in lower public regional drug expenditure, while genericables seem to reduce public regional drug expenditures.