I am an applied economist working at the intersection of firm dynamics, technological change, and macroeconomic uncertainty. My research examines how firms invest in tangible and intangible assets under uncertainty, and how micro-level decisions translate into productivity dynamics and aggregate outcomes. I also work on the economics of longevity, analysing ageing trajectories, demographic change, and their economic implications.
I am currently on the academic job market (2025-2026).
Overview of Past and Ongoing Research
Firms’ Investments & Capacity Utilisation: The Role of Financial Constraints and Uncertainty (Revise and Resubmit at Small Business Economics Journal)
Summary: This paper examines how deviations from target capacity utilisation shape investment behaviour in Italian firms, using detailed survey data from 2002–2024. We show that investment is strongest among high-capacity and high-growth-potential firms, driven mainly by large firms, and that uncertainty stimulates investment when capacity is low but not when it is high.
Uncertainty and Investments in Data and R&D
Summary: This paper shows that firms’ investments in data causally stimulate R&D and that the two inputs act as productivity-enhancing complements. Using Italian firm-level data (2002–2024) and the GDPR as an instrument, we find that data intensity amplifies both R&D investment and its productivity effects.
On the Definition and Measurement of Ageing Variables
Summary: As life expectancy rises and ageing becomes central across multiple disciplines, this paper clarifies what qualifies as an “ageing variable” and why. We propose a definition that can guide academic and policy debates and apply it to evaluate whether existing measures genuinely capture ageing.
Siavash Mohades 