The effects of the EU enlargement to eastern european countries and the Monti-Fornero reform on the labor supply of italian women

This dissertation explores critical aspects of immigration and pension reforms and their influence on labor market dynamics in Italy. The first chapter examines the demographic shift in Italy from a nation of emigration to one of significant immigration, with a focus on the socio-economic impacts on native labor market participation. Using data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), it analyzes the regional distribution and occupational integration of immigrants, emphasizing challenges arising from differing statistical definitions of ”immigrant” and the implications for policy. Findings reveal significant geographic and sectoral concentration of immigrants, particularly in manual labor sectors in northern Italy, underscoring the varied impact on native employment and wages across regions. The second chapter investigates how increased immigration affects labor market partic- ipation and retirement among Italian women aged 55 to 65. The analysis centers on the period from 2007 to 2017, marked by a surge of Romanian immigrants following EU enlargement. This study explores whether Romanian immigrants, particularly employed in elderly caregiving roles, substitute for Italian women in family caregiving responsibili- ties, thereby influencing their employment and retirement decisions. Results indicate that higher concentrations of Romanian immigrants are associated with lower retirement rates and higher employment among Italian women, especially among unmarried women with elderly dependents, with effects most pronounced in central Italy. The third chapter evaluates the unintended consequences of the Monti-Fornero pension reform, which unexpectedly raised retirement age thresholds, on the labor market tra- jectories of young women whose mothers were directly affected by the reform. Utilizing detailed administrative data, the analysis reveals that daughters of women impacted by the reform demonstrate lower employment levels and reduced wages, with effects more acute for women with lower education and income levels. Together, these studies offer a nuanced understanding of how immigration and pension policy reforms interact with labor market and social structures, providing insights for future policy interventions that balance economic needs with social support systems.