This article is the result of a study aimed at measuring the impact generated by training activity in Italy. This study focuses on training promoted and implemented at a regional level, with particular attention to actions co-financed by the European Social Fund. From an empirical point of view, the most immediate difficulty is related to the political nature of decisions on expenditure. Also, there is the need to determine not a simple correlation between the variables, but a precise bond of causality. The role played by vocational training was analysed within structural models where labour supply and demand are considered as exogenous. The estimates and results obtained show that the regions with the greatest level of investment in training are not those less developed, benefiting from Community financing according to the goals of the European Social Fund. On the contrary, the European Social Fund main beneficiaries are the regions already well advanced with positive labour market indicators.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Allen, H.L., B. McCormick and R.J. O'Brien (1991) 'Unemployment and the Demand for Retraining: An Economic Analysis', The Economic Journal101: 190-201.
2.
Barro, R.J. (1991) 'Economic Growth in a Cross-Section of Countries' , The Quarterly Journal of Economics May: 407-43.
3.
Battistoni, L. and A. Ruberto (1989) Percorsi Giovanili di Studio e Lavoro. Milan: Franco Angeli.
4.
Baussola, M. and R. Fiorito (1992) 'Regional Unemployment in Italy: Sources and Cures', Quaderni del Dipartimento di Economia Polrtica 136. Siena : Università degli Studi.
5.
Bengtsson, J. (1991) 'Human Resource Development: Education, Training and Labour Market Development', Futures December: 1085-106.
6.
Blundell, R. and L. Matyas (1992) 'Panel Data Analysis: An Introductory Overview' , Structural Change and Economic Dynamics3(2): 291-9.
7.
Bulgarelli, A. (1990) 'Impatto della Formazione sull'Economia Regionale: Problemi di Valutazione', Osservatorio IsfolXII(5): 96-101.
8.
Bulgarelli, A. (1993a) La Valutazione del Fondo Sociale Europeo. Milan: Franco Angeli.
9.
Bulgarelli, A. (1993b) 'L'Efficacia della Formazione sui Beneficiari del Fondo Sociale Europeo', Osservatorio IsfolXV(6): 9-44.
10.
Bulgarelli, A. and P. Garonna (1990) 'I Benefici della Formazione Professionale', Osservatorio IsfolXII(2): 62-91.
11.
Bulgarelli, A. and M. Giovine (1988) Il Lavoro dei Giovanni. Milan : Franco Angeli.
12.
Centre Européen pour le Développement de la formation professionelle (CEDEFOP) (1992) Evaluation as an Approach towards the Improvement of Regional Vocational Traming and Labour Market Policy . Berlin: CEDEFOP.
13.
CSC (Centro Studi Confindustria) (1990) L'Infrastruttura a rete. Dotazioni e Linee di InterventoRome: Sipi Editore.
14.
Dolton, P.J. (1993) 'The Econometric Assessment of Training Schemes. A Critical Review'. Paper presented at the International Labour Economists Conference of Maastncht.
15.
Giannini, C. (1985) 'L'Offerta di Lavoro in Italia: Tendenze Recenti e Previsioni per il periodo 1984-93', Temi di Discussione n. 45Roma: Banca d'Italia.
16.
Giovine, M. (1995) Metodologia per la Valutazione di Impatto delle Attività di Formazione Cofinanziate dal FSE. Rome: Isfol.
17.
Gori, E. (1992) 'Variabili Latenti e Self-selection nella Valutazione dei Processi Formativi', StatisticaLII(3): 463-80.
18.
Haskel, J. and C. Martin (1993) 'Do Skill Shortages Reduce Productivity? Theory and Evidence from the United Kingdom', The Economic Review103: 386-94.
19.
Jackman, R., C. Pissarides and S. Savouri (1990) 'Labour Market Policies and Unemployment in the OECD', Economic Policy October: 450-90.
20.
Jakubson, G. (1988) 'The Sensitivity of Labour-Supply Parameter Estimates to Unobserved Individual Effects: Fixed- and Random-Effects Estimates in a Nonlinear Model Using Panel Data', Journal of Labour Economics6(3): 302-29.
21.
Layard, R., S. Nickell and R. Jackman (1991) UnemploymentOxford: Oxford University Press.
22.
Leon, P. and M. Marocchi , eds (1973) Sviluppo Economico Italiano e Forza Lavoro. Venice: Marsilio.
23.
Livragni, R. (1991) 'Formazione ed Uguaglianza della Opportunità nei Paesi delle Comumtà Europea', Quaderni di Economia del Lavoro45: 67-93.
24.
Loury, L.D. and D. Grarmann (1993) 'Affirmative Action in Higher Education', The American Economic Review83(2): 99-103.
25.
Mincer, J. (1966) 'Labour-force Participation and Unemployment: a Review of Recent Evidence', in Gordon and Gordon (eds) Prosperity and Unemployment. New York: Wiley.
26.
Oecd (1991) Evaluating Labour Market and Social Programmes: The State of a Complex Art. Paris: OECD.
27.
Oecd (1992) 'Active Labour Market Policies: Assessing Macro-economic and Micro-economic Effects', Employment Outlook. Paris: OECD .
28.
Oecd (1993) High and Persistent Unemployment: Micro-economic and Structural Remedies. Mimeo.
29.
Passamani, G. (1989) 'Empirical Analyses of Causal Relationships among Estimated Aggregate Unemployment Duration and Some Properly Chosen Economic Variables', Labour3(1): 149-69.
30.
Pedersen, P.J. and N. Westergard-Nielsen (1993) 'Unemployment: a Review of the Evidence from Panel Data', OECD Economic Studies20: 65-113.
31.
Pissarides, C.A. (1992) 'Loss of Skill during Unemployment and the Persistence of Employment Shocks', The Quarterly Journal of Economics November: 1371-91.
32.
Poirier, D.J. (1991) 'The Econometrics of Structural Change: a Retrospective View', Structural Change and Economic Dynamics2(2): 395-404.
33.
Raaum, O., H. Torp, E. Hernaes and H. Goldstein (1993) 'Evaluations of Labour Market Training Programmes: Some Experiences with an Experimental Design'. Paper presented at the International Labour Economists Conference of Maastricht
34.
Saracino, A. (1984) 'L'Offerta di Lavoro: una Verifica Empinca sul Panel delle Regioni Italiane (1967-1979', Economia & LavoroXVIII(1): 43-53.
35.
Sicherman, N. (1991) 'Overeducation in the Labour Market', Journal of Labour Economics9(2): 101-22.
36.
Stern, N. (1991) 'The Determination of Growth', The Economic Journal101:101-33.
37.
Topel, R. (1993) 'What Have We Learned from Empirical Studies of Unemployment and Turnover?', American Economic Review83(2): 110-15.
38.
Westergard-Nielsen, N. (1993) 'The Effect of Labour Market Training Programs Where Initial Conditions Differ'. The Danish EC Presidency Conference, Kolding.
39.
Zweimuller, J. and R. Winter-Ebmer (1990) Manpower Training Programs and Employment Stability. Mimeo.
