PhD holders propensity to work in research-intensive sectors: evidence from Italy

Abstract

PhD holders play an important role in exploring new research areas relevant to the development of knowledge-based economies, and the investment in PhD education is seen as part of a strategy for tomorrows’ society, with doctorates historically being absorbed by an academic career dedicated to teaching and research. However, these days are gone, and the number of PhD holders is far beyond the academic vacancies available. The present study aims at estimating the probability of PhD holders to work in research intensive sectors in Italy. We use data available from the National Institute of Statistics to estimate a probit model with the Heckman correction for the sample selection bias. The study has political consequences related to PhD holders career orientation.