ASSESSING THE TERRITORIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ERASMUS+ (2014–2020; 2023–2024): EVIDENCE FROM DESK AND FIELD RESEARCH IN ITALY

This research project, conducted by the Department of Business Studies at Roma Tre University in collaboration with INDIRE, assesses the economic and territorial impact of the Erasmus+ Programme (2014–2020 and 2023–2024) on Italian local communities, focusing on the higher education sector (Universities, AFAM, ITS). The study integrates a desk analysis of official data with a field survey, aiming to estimate both the direct and indirect economic effects generated by incoming students during their mobility periods. The desk analysis elaborates regional data on student inflows, monthly grants, living costs, and average length of stay. It estimates the average spending capacity per student and highlights regional asymmetries in grant adequacy and economic impact, particularly in high-density areas such as Latium, Emilia-Romagna, and Lombardy. The analysis also considers structural variables such as inflation and cost-of-living variations, though cautiously excluded from comparative calculations to avoid distortions caused by uneven student distribution. The field research collected 1,534 valid responses in 2024 via a structured quali- quantitative questionnaire, enabling a deeper understanding of actual expenditure patterns (e.g. housing, food, leisure, tourism) and their territorial distribution. Qualitative feedback further enriches the analysis by reflecting students’ experiences and perceptions of local contexts. Overall, the findings reveal that Erasmus+ mobility produces significant but uneven economic returns across Italian regions. The study offers a methodological basis and empirical evidence for informing public policy and promoting more territorially balanced strategies to enhance the local value generated by international student mobility.