Superbonus and work injuries in the construction sector in Italy

Andrea Benecchi (), Daniele Ruggeri () and Elisa Scarinzi ()
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Andrea Benecchi: Bank of Italy
Daniele Ruggeri: Bank of Italy
Elisa Scarinzi: Bank of Italy

No 1545, Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) from Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area

Abstract: In response to the 2020 economic shutdown, the Italian government introduced the Superbonus, a substantial increase in existing incentives for residential building renovation aimed at supporting the construction sector. The measure triggered a sharp and sustained rise in sectoral output. Using sector-level data, we examine the policy's impact on workplace injuries, which have historically been frequent in construction. Contrary to previous evidence linking economic expansions to higher accident rates, we find that, following the introduction of the Superbonus, construction employment in Italy rose markedly relative to other sectors, while the injury rate declined slightly. Amid generally declining injury rates, driven by changes in legislation, the Superbonus reinforced this trend by increasing compliance incentives and the costs associated with regulatory infringements.

Keywords: workplace injuries; construction sector; Superbonus; synthetic difference-in-differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 H24 J28 L74 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-10
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