Educational mismatch and spatial flexibility in italian local labour markets

According to recent literature, this paper highlights the relevance of spatial mobility as an explanatory factor of the individual risk of job-education mismatch. To investigate this causal link, we use individual information about daily hometo- work commuting time and choices to relocate in a different local area to get a job. Our model takes into account relevant local labour market features. We control for selective access to employment and test for endogeneity of spatial mobility. Results show a negative impact of commuting time on educational mismatch for upper-secondary graduates, as well as a negative impact of migration/migration distance for university graduates. Keywords: educational mismatch; spatial flexibility; local labour markets; sample selection bias JEL Classification: J21; J61; J62