De Leo, Corinna (2025) Essays in Labour Economics. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

This dissertation investigates the labour market outcomes of some of the more vulnerable groups of individuals, namely students, women, and immigrants. In the first chapter, I analyze the effect of the transition to online teaching prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic on student academic outcomes at the University of Naples Federico II. The study reveals an overall increase in the number of credits earned per semester and in the exam grades. I find heterogeneous impacts of remote learning across disciplines and demographics: female students outperform their male counterparts and those enrolled in Humanities and Medical programs benefit the most from the teaching switch. Interestingly, there is no differential impact along the socio-economic dimension. The second chapter contributes to the literature on gender disparities in the labour market by analyzing the contribution of labour demand factors to the child penalty in Italy. In particular, this essay explores the role of job separations. First, I distinguish between voluntary (dismissals) and non-voluntary (firings) separations and I find a consistent increase in the likelihood of being fired for women with children. Second, I find a marked and persistent difference in the use of firings that may mask potentially discriminatory practices by employers towards working mothers. In the third chapter, I analyze the difference in labour market outcomes between immigrants and natives in 24 European countries and the role of job search in shaping these outcomes. I first provide evidence that immigrants' employment opportunities worsen during economic downturns, with different dynamics across four main macro European regions (West, East, North and South). I then investigate whether these differences in outcomes between foreign-born and natives may be correlated to differences in their job search strategies. Northern and Eastern Europe display more dynamic reactions. Northern European immigrants increasingly use formal channels during recessions, especially those with lower education. In Eastern Europe, immigrants shift from informal to formal methods during recessions, driven mainly by more educated individuals. This dissertation sheds light on the multifaceted challenges faced by the vulnerable groups under analysis, emphasizing the importance of institutional frameworks and policy interventions tailored to their specific needs. By highlighting the heterogeneity of outcomes and underlying mechanisms, it offers valuable insights to inform more equitable and effective labour market policies.

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