IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/diw/diwvjh/79-1-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Arbeitsmarktpolitik: falsche Anreize vermeiden, Fehlentwicklungen korrigieren

Author

Listed:
  • Karl Brenke
  • Werner Eichhorst

Abstract

The comprehensive labour market reform package implemented between 2003 and 2005 has made the German labour market more flexible. Today, there is need to fine-tune some of the reforms and correct the institutional set-up in order to eliminate some unintended side-effects. The current federal government, however, considers a number of reforms which point in the wrong direction. This is particularly true for an expansion of the benefit disregard clauses in means-tested minimum income support ('Hartz IV') and a further increase of the threshold below which marginal part-time jobs are exempt from employee social contributions and income taxes. This type of jobs tends to undermine tax and social insurance revenues and distorts the functioning of the labour market since in can be shown that they displace regular employment covered by taxation and social insurance. Hence, as a consequence, they should rather be eliminated. More generous earnings disregard clauses, on the other side, would imply a significant increase in the number of unemployment support beneficiaries topping-up their benefits through part-time or marginal jobs. This, in turn, tends to prolong benefit dependency and reduces the odds of leaving the income support schemes. Regarding the regulation of the labour market in Germany, there is no need to re- or de-regulation fixed-term contracts. With respect to low pay, a general, but moderate statutory minimum wage would be a better alternative to sectoral, collectively agreed minimum wages made generally binding through extension. Last, but not least, since temporary agency work has established itself as a specific segment of the labour market with longer assignments and a significant wage differential to regular employment, there is some need to revise the rules governing temporary agency work. Nach den umfassenden Reformen in den Jahren 2003 bis 2005, die erheblich zur Flexibilisierung des Arbeitsmarktes beigetragen haben, besteht der Reformbedarf nun im Wesentlichen in der Nachjustierung einzelner Maßnahmen und der Korrektur politikbedingter Fehlentwicklungen. Die Bundesregierung erwägt gemäß Koalitionsvertrag allerdings Reformen, die in die falsche Richtung weisen. Das gilt insbesondere für die Erhöhung der anrechnungsfreien Hinzuverdienste von Hartz-IV-Empfängern und die Ausweitung der Vergünstigungen bei den Mini- und Midijobs. Solche Beschäftigungsverhältnisse schwächen allerdings die Einnahmebasis bei den Steuern und Sozialversicherungen, führen zu Wettbewerbsverzerrungen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt und können reguläre, sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung verdrängen. Sie sind systemwidrig und gehören deshalb abgeschafft. Die Ausweitung der Hinzuverdienstmöglichkeiten der Hartz-IV-Empfänger hätte zur Folge, dass die Zahl der Leistungsempfänger steigt und dass es für manche davon attraktiver wird, im Leistungsbezug zu verharren. Überdies geht es den meisten Hilfebeziehern nicht um Hinzuverdienste, sondern um eine auskömmliche Erwerbstätigkeit. Kein Reformbedarf besteht bei der Befristung von Arbeitsverträgen. Mit Blick auf den Niedriglohnsektor sind moderate gesetzliche Mindestlöhne gegenüber tarifvertraglich vereinbarten Branchenlösungen die bessere Alternative, weil dadurch Wettbewerbsverzerrungen vermieden werden. Nachbesserungen sind bei der Zeitarbeit erforderlich, da ein Arbeitsmarktsegment entstanden ist, das nicht nur der Abfederung wechselnder Arbeitskräftenachfrage dient. Überdies wird die berufliche Mobilität der Zeitarbeitnehmer zu sehr eingeschränkt.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl Brenke & Werner Eichhorst, 2010. "Arbeitsmarktpolitik: falsche Anreize vermeiden, Fehlentwicklungen korrigieren," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 79(1), pages 56-84.
  • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:79-1-5
    DOI: 10.3790/vjh.79.1.56
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.3790/vjh.79.1.56
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.3790/vjh.79.1.56?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karl Brenke & Werner Eichhorst, 2008. "Leiharbeit breitet sich rasant aus," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 75(19), pages 242-252.
    2. Karl Brenke, 2010. "Fünf Jahre Hartz IV: das Problem ist nicht die Arbeitsmoral," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 77(6), pages 2-13.
    3. Michael Kvasnicka, 2009. "Does Temporary Help Work Provide a Stepping Stone to Regular Employment?," NBER Chapters, in: Studies of Labor Market Intermediation, pages 335-372, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Helmut Hofer, 2007. "The Severance Pay Reform in Austria ("Abfertigung neu")," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 5(4), pages 41-48, 06.
    5. Jan Goebel & Maria Richter, 2007. "Nach der Einführung von Arbeitslosengeld II: deutlich mehr Verlierer als Gewinner unter den Hilfeempfängern," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 74(50), pages 753-761.
    6. Peichl, Andreas & Schneider, Hilmar & Siegloch, Sebastian, 2010. "Reform der Hinzuverdienstregeln in der Grundsicherung: Kein Entkommen aus der Transferfalle," IZA Standpunkte 26, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Viktor Steiner & Katharina Wrohlich, 2005. "Minijob-Reform: keine durchschlagende Wirkung," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 72(8), pages 141-146.
    8. repec:zbw:rwimat:043 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Berndt Keller & Hartmut Seifert, 2013. "Atypical employment in Germany. Forms, development, patterns1," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 19(4), pages 457-474, November.
    2. Brehmer, Wolfram & Seifert, Hartmut, 2008. "Sind atypische Beschäftigungsverhältnisse prekär? : eine empirische Analyse sozialer Risiken (Are atypical employment relationships precarious? : an empirical analysis of social risks)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 41(4), pages 501-531.
    3. Brehmer, Wolfram & Seifert, Hartmut, 2008. "Sind atypische Beschäftigungsverhältnisse prekär? : eine empirische Analyse sozialer Risiken (Are atypical employment relationships precarious? : an empirical analysis of social risks)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 41(4), pages 501-531.
    4. Eichhorst, Werner & Marx, Paul, 2009. "Reforming German Labor Market Institutions: A Dual Path to Flexibility," IZA Discussion Papers 4100, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Christoph Ehlert & Jochen Kluve & Sandra Schaffner, 2012. "Temporary work as an active labor market policy: Evaluating an innovative program for disadvantaged youths," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 32(2), pages 1765-1773.
    6. Mattia Filomena & Matteo Picchio, 2022. "Are temporary jobs stepping stones or dead ends? A systematic review of the literature," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(9), pages 60-74, August.
    7. Schmidl, Ricarda, 2015. "The Effectiveness of Early Vacancy Information in the Presence of Monitoring and ALMP," IZA Discussion Papers 9575, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Elert, Niklas & Henrekson, Magnus & Stenkula, Mikael, 2017. "Institutional Reform for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: An Agenda for Europe," Working Paper Series 1150, Research Institute of Industrial Economics, revised 16 Feb 2017.
    9. Daniela Casale & Aalia Cassim, 2018. "How large is the wage penalty in the labour broker sector?: Evidence for South Africa using administrative data," WIDER Working Paper Series 48, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Hörnig, Lukas, 2023. "Regional employment effects of the Hartz-reforms," Ruhr Economic Papers 1033, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    11. Addison, John T. & Cotti, Chad & Surfield, Christopher J., 2009. "Atypical Work: Who Gets It, and Where Does It Lead? Some U.S. Evidence Using the NLSY79," IZA Discussion Papers 4444, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Hveem, Joakim, 2012. "Are temporary work agencies stepping-stones into regular employment?," SULCIS Working Papers 2012:3, Stockholm University, Linnaeus Center for Integration Studies - SULCIS.
    13. Mihee Park & Joonmo Kang, 2017. "Job satisfaction of non-standard workers in Korea: focusing on non-standard workers’ internal and external heterogeneity," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 31(4), pages 605-623, August.
    14. Giovanni Gallo & Costanza Torricelli & Arthur van Soest, 2016. "Individual heterogeneity and pension choices: How to communicate an effective message?," Center for the Analysis of Public Policies (CAPP) 0136, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Economia "Marco Biagi".
    15. Christopher L. House & Jing Zhang, 2012. "Layoffs, Lemons and Temps," NBER Working Papers 17962, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Achatz, Juliane & Trappmann, Mark, 2011. "Arbeitsmarktvermittelte Abgänge aus der Grundsicherung : der Einfluss von personen- und haushaltsgebundenen Barrieren," IAB-Discussion Paper 201102, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    17. Gianna Giannelli & Ursula Jaenichen & Claudia Villosio, 2012. "Have Labor Market Reforms at the Turn of the Millennium Changed the Job and Employment Durations of new Entrants?," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 143-172, June.
    18. Karl Brenke & Klaus F. Zimmermann, 2011. "Ältere auf dem Arbeitsmarkt," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 80(2), pages 11-31.
    19. Baudy, Philipp & Cords, Dario, 2016. "Deregulation of temporary agency employment in a unionized economy: Does this really lead to a substitution of regular employment?," Hohenheim Discussion Papers in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 06-2016, University of Hohenheim, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.
    20. Werner Eichhorst & Verena Tobsch, 2013. "Has Atypical Work Become Typical in Germany?: Country Case Studies on Labour Market Segmentation," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 596, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labour market reforms; Germany; unemployment support; low-wage employment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:79-1-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Bibliothek (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/diwbede.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.