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Do in-work benefits work for low-skilled workers?

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  • Bruno Van der Linden

    (LIDAM/IRES, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

High risk of poverty and low employment rates are widespread among low-skilled groups, especially in the case of some household compositions (e.g. single mothers). “Making-work-pay” policies have been advocated for and implemented to address these issues. They alleviate the above-mentioned problems without providing a disincentive to work. However, do they deliver on their promises? If they do reduce poverty and enhance employment, is it possible to determine their effects on indicators of well-being, such as mental health and life satisfaction, or on the acquisition of human capital?

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Van der Linden, 2021. "Do in-work benefits work for low-skilled workers?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 246-246, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2021:n:246
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sam Desiere & Bart Cockx, 2021. "How effective are hiring subsidies to reduce long-term unemployment among prime-aged jobseekers? Evidence from Belgium," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 21/1025, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    2. Tito Boeri & Pierre Cahuc, 2022. "Labor Market Insurance Policies in the XXI Century," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03878719, HAL.
    3. Hetschko, Clemens & Schöb, Ronnie & Wolf, Tobias, 2020. "Income support, employment transitions and well-being," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Ernst, Ekkehard & Merola, Rossana & Reljic, Jelena, 2024. "Fiscal policy instruments for inclusive labour markets: A review," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1406, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Wolf, Tobias & Hetschko, Clemens & Schöb, Ronnie, 2016. "Income Support, (Un-)Employment and Well-Being," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145860, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    making work pay; inactivity trap; redistribution; single mothers; Earned Income Tax Credit; Working Tax Credit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J8 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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