Finding a Better Job: The Geography of Socioprofessionnal Mobility During Working Life. (with Anne Epaulard - Paris Dauphine PSL) Revise & Resubmit - Regional Science and Urban Economics

What determines the chances of moving up to better jobs? We measure the influence of local labor markets on individuals’ socioprofessional mobility during their working life, focusing on large promotions and demotions. Applying an empirical strategy to remove spatial sorting bias in a sample of about 350,000 workers in France over the period 2009-2015, we find that density, local human capital, and labor market size significantly increase the likelihood of being promoted to a higher socioprofessional status. The impact is larger on external promotions (outside the firm) compared to internal promotions. Experience accumulated in the densest areas increases the chances of being promoted -- even after relocation to less dense areas. This dynamic effect through promotion accounts for about 15% of the experience-related wage premium observed in those areas.

The Local Impact of University Decentralization: Evidence from Higher Education Policy in France Revise & Resubmit - Regional Studies

I measure the effects on the local human-capital accumulation of the "New Universities" created as part of the U2000 Plan implemented in France in the early 1990s. Using the synthetic control method, I show that, on average, the opening of "new universities" has led to a significant increase in the local share of higher-educated people (not including those in school) by 4 points within 27 years (17% increase from the counterfactual level), though the positive impact seems not automatic and differs across cases. These effects did not occur from a regional displacement effect and imply attraction mechanisms of higher-educated population that go beyond a mere students’ decision to stay in the zone where they went to university. Exploring local implications in terms of employment and demographics, I show that local human capital accumulation in treated areas comes with employment growth and an increase of the young population, plus gains in skilled employment.

Quantitative Evaluation of policy-mixes: Lessons from a French Regional Innovation Policy (with Corinne Autant-Bernard - UJM/GATE, and  Frédéric Perrin - Région AURA) Under Review - Spatial Economic Analysis

This paper evaluates the effects of R&D place-based policies implemented by regional governments. We constructed a unique database that provides detailed information on direct R&D support from France’s leading Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region from 2009 to 2021, while controlling for national direct and indirect R&D support policies. Using a staggered event study design, we assess the policy’s impact on firm-level employment, turnover, exports, and financial performance. The econometric results reveal that innovative firms experience a gradual increase in turnover and employment after receiving regional support, with a more pronounced effect emerging approximately eight years later. Additionally, our findings highlight interaction effects between different instruments and government levels.