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The effect of job search requirements on welfare receipt

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  • Hérault, Nicolas
  • Vu, Ha
  • Wilkins, Roger

Abstract

Many countries impose job search requirements as a condition of unemployment benefit receipt, but there is relatively little evidence on the efficacy of these requirements. Australian reforms in 1995 and 2003 saw groups of welfare recipients newly subjected to job search requirements, providing an opportunity to identify their effects on welfare receipt. Using this quasi-experimental design and administrative data, we find negative effects on welfare receipt for the mature-age partnered women targeted by the reforms. We also find large negative effects on welfare receipt of their partners, suggesting family labour supply decisions were considerably affected.

Suggested Citation

  • Hérault, Nicolas & Vu, Ha & Wilkins, Roger, 2020. "The effect of job search requirements on welfare receipt," GLO Discussion Paper Series 646, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:646
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    welfare receipt; unemployment benefit; job search requirements;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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