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Wage Subsidies, Work Incentives, and the Reform of the Austrian Welfare System

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  • Steiner, Viktor

    (Free University of Berlin)

  • Wakolbinger, Florian

    (University of Linz)

Abstract

We analyze the labor supply and income effects of a needs-based minimum benefit system ("Bedarfsorientierte Mindestsicherung") to be introduced in Austria by the end of this/beginning of next year. The aim of this reform is to reduce poverty as well as increasing employment rates of recipients of social assistance. On the basis of a behavioral microsimulation model we show that this new system will slightly increase incomes for the poorest households and slightly reduce labor supply due to the generous allowances for marginal employment under the current and the planned regulations of unemployment assistance. As an alternative, we analyze a reform proposal which reduces financial incentives for marginal employment not covered by social security, and rewards working longer hours by a wage subsidy. Although this alternative reform would yield modest positive labor supply effects, a relatively large number of households would suffer income losses.

Suggested Citation

  • Steiner, Viktor & Wakolbinger, Florian, 2010. "Wage Subsidies, Work Incentives, and the Reform of the Austrian Welfare System," IZA Discussion Papers 5191, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5191
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    work incentives; labor supply; social safety system; microsimulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • 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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