Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/111074 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
CFS Working Paper Series No. 507
Publisher: 
Goethe University Frankfurt, Center for Financial Studies (CFS), Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
In 2000 Italy replaced its traditional system of severance pay for public employees with a new system. Under the old regime, severance pay was proportional to the final salary before retirement; under the new regime it is proportional to lifetime earnings. This reform entails substantial losses for future generations of public employees, in the range of €20,000-30,000, depending on seniority. Using a difference-in-difference framework, we estimate the impact of this unanticipated change in lifetime resources, on the current consumption and wealth accumulation of employees affected by the reform. In line with theoretical simulations, we find that each euro reduction in severance pay reduces the average propensity to consume by 3 cents and increases the wealth-income ratio by 0.32. The response is stronger for younger workers and for households where both spouses are public sector employees.
Subjects: 
Severance Pay
Consumption
Wealth Accumulation
JEL: 
D12
D91
E21
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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