The Transition to Work for Italian University Graduates

This study is focused on the transition from university to first job, taking into account the graduates' characteristics and the effects relating to degree subject. A large data set from a survey on job opportunities for the 1998 Italian graduates is used. The paper uses a non-parametric discrete-time single-risk model to study employment hazard. Alternative mixing distributions have also been used to account for unobserved heterogeneity. The results obtained indicate that there is evidence of positive duration dependence after a short initial period of negative duration dependence. In addition, a competing-risk model has been estimated to characterize transitions out of unemployment. Copyright 2009 CEIS, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.