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Complexity and benefit take-up: Empirical evidence from the Finnish homecare allowance

Author

Listed:
  • Tomer Blumkin

    (Ben Gurion University and CESifo)

  • Tuomas Kosonen

    (Labour Institute for Economic Research and CESifo)

  • Kaisa Kotakorpi

    (VATT, University of Turku and CESifo)

Abstract

We analyse to what extent the complexity of benefit rules affects take-up in a setting where the effects of complexity can be separated from other potential causes of non-take-up. The benefit we study is extensively used by individuals from all socioeconomic groups, namely the municipal supplement to the child homecare allowance in Finland. We use individual-level data on mothers of young children together with municipal-level data on the application rules for the benefit. Variation in the supplement rules between municipalities and over time is used to estimate the causal effect of complexity on take-up. We find in a differences-in-differences setting that complexity has a very large effect on take-up. Complex application procedures cause individuals to forego a benefit of approximately 200 \texteuro \ per month, potentially for 2 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomer Blumkin & Tuomas Kosonen & Kaisa Kotakorpi, 2018. "Complexity and benefit take-up: Empirical evidence from the Finnish homecare allowance," Discussion Papers 123, Aboa Centre for Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tkk:dpaper:dp123
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Manasi Deshpande & Yue Li, 2019. "Who Is Screened Out? Application Costs and the Targeting of Disability Programs," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(4), pages 213-248, November.
    2. Moffitt, Robert, 1983. "An Economic Model of Welfare Stigma," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 73(5), pages 1023-1035, December.
    3. Anna Aizer, 2007. "Public Health Insurance, Program Take-Up, and Child Health," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 89(3), pages 400-415, August.
    4. Saurabh Bhargava & Dayanand Manoli, 2015. "Psychological Frictions and the Incomplete Take-Up of Social Benefits: Evidence from an IRS Field Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(11), pages 3489-3529, November.
    5. Kosonen Tuomas, 2014. "To Work or Not to Work? The Effect of Childcare Subsidies on the Labour Supply of Parents," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 14(3), pages 817-848, July.
    6. Henrik Jacobsen Kleven & Wojciech Kopczuk, 2011. "Transfer Program Complexity and the Take-Up of Social Benefits," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 3(1), pages 54-90, February.
    7. Matikka, Tuomas & Paukkeri, Tuuli, 2016. "Does information increase the take-up of social benefits? Evidence from a new benefit program," Working Papers 83, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bastani, Spencer & Giebe, Thomas & Miao, Chizheng, 2020. "Ethnicity and tax filing behavior," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    benefit take-up; complexity; childcare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs

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