The Age-Productivity Profile:Long-Run Evidence from Italian Regions

Arbeitspapier

This paper leverages spatial and time-series variation in the population age structure of Italian regions to uncover the causal effect of demographic shifts on labour productivity. Such effect is analysed along a 'first-order' channel stemming from the direct relation between an individual's age and productivity, and a 'second-order' channel that captures the productivity implications of a more or less dispersed age distribution. We propose an estimation framework that relates labour productivity to the entire age distribution of the working-age population and employs instrumental variable techniques to address endogeneity issues. The estimates return a hump-shaped age-productivity profile, with a peak between 35 and 40 years, as well as a positive productivity effect associated with a more dispersed age distribution.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CReAM Discussion Paper Series ; No. 19/20

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts ; Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure ; Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: General, International, or Comparative
• Subject: productivity ; demography ; age distribution ; working-age population ; long-run

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Barbiellini, Federico ; Gomellini, Matteo ; Incoronato, Lorenzon ; Piselli, Paolo
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Centre for Research & Analysis of Migration (CReAM), Department of Economics, University College London
• (where): London
• (when): 2020

Further information

• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET