Andrea Fazio (Marche Polytechnic University)
Erminia Florio
This paper studies how information on demographic trends affects youths perceptions of the labor market and migration intentions. Using a survey experiment with over 900 high school students in Rome, we randomly provide information on population aging in Italy to the treatment group, while the control group receives unrelated information. We find that exposure to aging information worsens perceptions of job opportunities for young people, with limited effects on inequality perceptions. Heterogeneity analysis, motivated by Eurobarometer evidence, reveals that the treatment negatively affects female students perceptions, while improving males views on job opportunities and reducing their migration intentions.