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Basic Income Reform in Germany: Better Gradualism than Cold Turkey

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  • Spermann, Alexander

    (University of Freiburg)

Abstract

This paper advocates the cautious and constitutional evolution of existing basic income schemes (“unemployment benefit II”) and Targeted Negative Income Tax (TNIT = "Einstiegsgeld") into a means-tested combi-wage model for the future long-term unemployed (gradualism strategy). The paper argues that, with regard to existing unemployment benefit II claimants, stronger financial incentives should be offered on a time restricted basis by largely disregarding (up to the relative poverty line) earnings from "mini", "midi" and part-time jobs – with the aim of providing current unemployment II claimants with a powerful incentive to work at least 15 hours a week and thus to relinquish their unemployed status. Bearing in mind the uncertain employment impact and the related fiscal risks, the paper advises against additional financial incentives by reducing support levels from one day to the next (cold turkey strategy).

Suggested Citation

  • Spermann, Alexander, 2006. "Basic Income Reform in Germany: Better Gradualism than Cold Turkey," IZA Discussion Papers 2398, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2398
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Spermann, Alexander & Strotmann, Harald, 2005. "The Targeted Negative Income Tax (TNIT) in Germany: Evidence from a Quasi Experiment," ZEW Discussion Papers 05-68, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Koch, Susanne & Stephan, Gesine & Walwei, Ulrich, 2005. "Workfare: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen," IAB-Discussion Paper 200517, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    3. Viktor Steiner & Katharina Wrohlich, 2004. "Work Incentives and Labor Supply Effects of the 'Mini-Jobs Reform' in Germany," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 438, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    4. Hans-Werner Sinn & Christian Holzner & Wolfgang Meister & Wolfgang Ochel & Martin Werding, 2006. "Aktivierende Sozialhilfe 2006 - das Kombilohn-Modell des ifo Instituts," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 59(02), pages 06-27, January.
    5. Hans-Werner Sinn & Christian Holzner & Wolfgang Meister & Wolfgang Ochel & Martin Werding, 2002. "Aktivierende Sozialhilfe - Ein Weg zu mehr Beschäftigung und Wachstum," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 55(09), pages 03-52, May.
    6. Michalopoulos, Charles & Robins, Philip K. & Card, David, 2005. "When financial work incentives pay for themselves: evidence from a randomized social experiment for welfare recipients," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 5-29, January.
    7. Dietz, Martin & Koch, Susanne & Walwei, Ulrich, 2006. "Kombilohn: Ein Ansatz mit Haken und Ösen," IAB-Kurzbericht 200603, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    8. repec:bla:germec:v:7:y:2006:i::p:363-388 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Giamattei, Marcus, 2015. "Cold Turkey vs. Gradualism - Evidence on Disinflation Strategies from a Laboratory Experiment," Passauer Diskussionspapiere, Volkswirtschaftliche Reihe V-67-15, University of Passau, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    2. Marcus Giamattei, 2022. "Can Cold Turkey Reduce Inflation Inertia? Evidence on Disinflation and Level‐k Thinking from a Laboratory Experiment," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 54(8), pages 2477-2517, December.
    3. Jochen Michaelis & Alexander Spermann, 2009. "Geringqualifizierte Arbeit, Marktlöhne und Sozialpolitik: Konzepte für Deutschland," MAGKS Papers on Economics 200920, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    4. Genz, Hermann & Spermann, Alexander, 2007. "Das Mannheimer Grundsicherungsmodell - der Weg zu einer effizienteren und gerechteren Grundsicherung ohne Absenkung des Arbeitslosengeld II-Niveaus," ZEW Discussion Papers 07-002, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    long-term unemployment; labor market reform; employee subsidy; workfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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