Individualized Benefits and Access to Active Labor Market Programs Boost Refugee Women’s Economic Integration

Cristina Bratu, Linna Martén () and Lillit Ottosson
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Linna Martén: Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University, Postal: SOFI, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden, https://www.su.se/profiles/limar-1.423727

No 3/2023, Working Paper Series from Stockholm University, Swedish Institute for Social Research

Abstract: The economic and social integration of refugees is a key policy concern. The situation of refugee women is particularly challenging, as many never enter the labor force. We study a reform of the Swedish integration program that aimed to tackle this issue by increasing women’s participation in and access to active labor market programs. Using administrative data and a regression discontinuity design, we show that the reform resulted in lasting improvements in women’s earnings and employment. We find no effects for men. Additional analyses suggest that individualizing financial benefits and early registration with the Public Employment Service are key mechanisms.

Keywords: Refugees; Integration; Active Labor Market Program (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J08 J15 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 53 pages
Date: 2023-05-23, Revised 2024-08-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-lab and nep-mig
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:sofiwp:2023_003

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