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Wage subsidies for needy job-seekers and their effect on individual labour market outcomes after the German reforms

Author

Listed:
  • Bernhard, Sarah
  • Gartner, Hermann
  • Stephan, Gesine

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany)

Abstract

"In Germany, since 2005 needy job-seekers without access to earnings-related and insurance-paid 'unemployment benefit I' are entitled to means-tested and tax-funded 'unemployment benefit II'. Several active labour market programmes support the integration of these needy job-seekers into the labour market. Our paper estimates the average effect of targeted wage subsidies - paid to employers for a limited period of time - on the subsequent labour market prospects of participating needy job-seekers. We apply propensity score matching to compare participants with a group of similar non-participants. The results show that wage subsidies had in fact large and significant favourable effects: 20 months after taking up a subsidised job, the share of persons in regular employment is nearly 40 percentage points higher across participants. Estimated effects on the shares not unemployed and the share no longer receiving 'unemployment benefit II' are slightly smaller." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Bernhard, Sarah & Gartner, Hermann & Stephan, Gesine, 2008. "Wage subsidies for needy job-seekers and their effect on individual labour market outcomes after the German reforms," IAB-Discussion Paper 200821, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabdpa:200821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Eingliederungszuschuss ; Erfolgskontrolle ; Arbeitslosengeld II-Empfänger ; Arbeitsmarktchancen;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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