Edoardo Frattola (Bank of Italy)
Elena Lazzaro, Ilaria Lopresti and Mario Tartaglia
This paper studies how improved transport connectivity shapes the spatial distribution of prospective human capital, exploiting the staggered expansion of Italys high-speed train (HST) network. Using administrative data on university enrollments and a difference-in-differences design, we estimate the causal effect of gaining HST access on student mobility. The opening of a high-speed connection leads to a persistent rise in student outflows from treated provinces, with no corresponding increase in inflows. This asymmetric response, concentrated in lagging regions and driven by long-distance moves toward major urban hubs, suggests that infrastructure-led integration may exacerbate regional disparities in human capital allocation.