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Do Unemployment Insurance Recipients Actively Seek Work? Randomized Trials in Four U.S. States

Author

Listed:
  • Orley Ashenfelter

    (Princeton University)

  • David Ashmore

    (Private Consultant)

  • Olivier Deschenes

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

In this paper we report the results of randomized trials designed to measure whether stricter enforcement and verification of work search behavior alone decreases unemployment insurance (Ul) claims and benefits. These experiments were designed to explicitly test claims based on nonexperimental data, that a prime cause of overpayment is the failure of claimants to actively seek work. Our results provide no support for the view that the failure to actively search for work has been a cause of overpayment in the UI system.

Suggested Citation

  • Orley Ashenfelter & David Ashmore & Olivier Deschenes, 1998. "Do Unemployment Insurance Recipients Actively Seek Work? Randomized Trials in Four U.S. States," Working Papers 791, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:indrel:412
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    unemployment insurance; work search requirements; randomized trials;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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