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Moral Hazard among the Employed: Evidence from Regression Discontinuity

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  • Gałecka-Burdziak, Ewa
  • Jessen, Jonas
  • Jessen, Robin
  • Johnston, Andrew

Abstract

We exploit policy discontinuities in Poland's unemployment insurance to examine the causal effect of changes to both benefit durations and levels. Using a regression discontinuity approach, we uncover three findings: (1) Higher benefit levels distort employment more than benefit extensions. (2) Benefit durations and levels interact: Longer durations substantially increase the distortionary effect of more generous payments. (3) Higher payments increase the transition of employed workers into unemployment. We develop a model of optimal unemployment insurance that accounts for moral hazard among both employed and unemployed workers. Notably, for level increases, distortionary costs are larger among the employed than unemployed.
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Suggested Citation

  • Gałecka-Burdziak, Ewa & Jessen, Jonas & Jessen, Robin & Johnston, Andrew, 2024. "Moral Hazard among the Employed: Evidence from Regression Discontinuity," VfS Annual Conference 2024 (Berlin): Upcoming Labor Market Challenges 302445, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc24:302445
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rafael Lalive & Jan Van Ours & Josef Zweimuller, 2006. "How Changes in Financial Incentives Affect the Duration of Unemployment," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 73(4), pages 1009-1038.
    2. Gabriel Chodorow-Reich & John Coglianese & Loukas Karabarbounis, 2019. "The Macro Effects of Unemployment Benefit Extensions: a Measurement Error Approach," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(1), pages 227-279.
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    6. Johannes F. Schmieder† & Till von Wachter & Stefan Bender, 2011. "The Effects Of Extended Unemployment Insurance Over The Business Cycle: Evidence From Regression Discontinuity Estimates Over Twenty Years," Boston University - Department of Economics - Working Papers Series WP2011-063, Boston University - Department of Economics.
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    8. Mitman, Kurt & Rabinovich, Stanislav, 2024. "Do unemployment benefit extensions explain the emergence of jobless recoveries?," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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