Ricerc@Sapienza

This research project investigates the structural divides in the Italian labour market, focusing on gender and regional disparities in labour force participation and unemployment. Its primary aim is to assess the validity of the unemployment invariance hypothesis – which posits that unemployment does not affect participation in the long run – within the Italian context, where persistent territorial and gender-based inequalities challenge this assumption. Using a structural econometric approach, the project explores whether high unemployment discourages (or encourages) labour market participation, with differentiated effects by macro-region and gender.

The project stands out for its interdisciplinary framework, combining macroeconomic analysis with public and constitutional law. In the Italian Constitution, labour is not only an economic variable but a foundational value (Art. 1) and a right that institutions must actively protect (Arts. 3, 4, and 37). Persistent underemployment in Southern Italy and low female participation are therefore not just policy issues but also constitutional concerns.

The findings will support evidence-based policymaking in areas such as labour market policies, gender equality, and territorial cohesion. By addressing the potential feedback loops between unemployment and participation, the project contributes to both academic debates and the implementation of national priorities – such as those outlined in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – and European strategies for inclusive and sustainable growth. In a period of structural transformation and post-pandemic adjustment, the project offers tools to foster a more resilient, equitable, and constitutionally coherent labour market.

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Il gruppo di ricerca è stato proponente dell'omonimo progetto, "Labour Market Divides in Italy: Unpacking Gender and Regional Disparities in Participation and Unemployment ", finanziato nell’ambito del Bando per la ricerca di Ateneo Sapienza 2025 (D.R. n. 2155/2025 del 17.07.2025 e successivo D.R. n. 2418/2025 del 06.08.2025). Trattasi di bando competitivo che prevede la revisione tra pari: i progetti sono infatti stati valutati da una specifica commissione secondo i criteri in uso nella comunità scientifica internazionale, individuando referee esterni. Gli esiti del processo sono stati comunicati con delibera del Senato accademico n. 58/2026 del 09.04.2026.