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Using Financial Incentives and Improving Information to Increase Labour Market Success: A Non-Parametric Evaluation of the ‘Want2Work’ Programme

Author

Listed:
  • Joanne Lindley
  • Jennifer Roberts

    (Department of Economics, The University of Sheffield)

  • Steven McIntosh

    (Department of Economics, The University of Sheffield)

  • Carolyn Czoski Murray
  • Richard Edlin

Abstract

The 'Want2Work' programme was designed to help individuals back into work. This article uses propensity score matching to evaluate the success of a policy that cannot otherwise be evaluated using standard parametric techniques. Using a range of estimation methods, sub-samples and types of job, the scheme was successful. Our most conservative estimates indicate that participants were 4-7 percentage points more likely to find employment than a control group of non-treated job-seekers. Effects were even stronger for Incapacity Benefit recipients. Moreover, there is little evidence that participants were placed in low quality or temporary jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanne Lindley & Jennifer Roberts & Steven McIntosh & Carolyn Czoski Murray & Richard Edlin, 2010. "Using Financial Incentives and Improving Information to Increase Labour Market Success: A Non-Parametric Evaluation of the ‘Want2Work’ Programme," Working Papers 2010013, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics, revised Jun 2010.
    • Handle: RePEc:shf:wpaper:2010013
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    File URL: http://www.shef.ac.uk/economics/research/serps/articles/2010_013.html
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richard Blundell & Monica Costa Dias & Costas Meghir & John Van Reenen, 2004. "Evaluating the Employment Impact of a Mandatory Job Search Program," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 2(4), pages 569-606, June.
    2. Duncan McVicar & Jan M. Podivinsky, 2009. "How Well Has The New Deal For Young People Worked In The Uk Regions?," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 56(2), pages 167-195, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lindley, Joanne & Mcintosh, Steven & Roberts, Jennifer & Czoski Murray, Carolyn & Edlin, Richard, 2015. "Policy evaluation via a statistical control: A non-parametric evaluation of the ‘Want2Work’ active labour market policy," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 635-645.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Active labour market policy; re-employment likelihood; propensity score matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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