Erwerbstätige im unteren Einkommensbereich stärken: Ansätze zur Reform von Arbeitslosengeld II, Wohngeld und Kinderzuschlag

Kerstin Bruckmeier, Jannek Mühlhan and Jürgen Wiemers
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Kerstin Bruckmeier: Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany
Jannek Mühlhan: Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany
Jürgen Wiemers: Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany

No 201809, IAB-Forschungsbericht from Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany]

Abstract: "Employed persons with low earnings living in low-income households can receive social benefits in addition to their earned income. The three most important means-tested benefits available for low-wage earners in Germany are social assistance for individuals capable of working (Arbeitslosengeld II), housing allowance (Wohngeld) and the enhanced child allowance (Kinderzuschlag). There exists a distinct overlap between these three benefit programs, which creates a complex benefit structure with high marginal tax rates, which negatively affects the individual labour supply. Additionally, the three programmes are characterised by high rates of non-take-up, indicating that the effectiveness of the programs in reaching their target groups could be improved. Using the microsimulation model of the IAB (IAB-MSM), which is based on representative panel data, we analyse the outcomes of implementing an in-work benefit designed close to social assistance, which addresses the weaknesses of the existing system. We compare labour supply, distributional as well as fiscal effects with a benchmark scenario, a set of policy changes the German government has recently agreed on. The results show that the in-work-benefit is well targeted to low-income households." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Keywords: Bundesrepublik Deutschland; Armut; Beschäftigungseffekte; Erwerbstätige; Grundsicherung nach SGB II; Kindergeldzuschlag; Niedriglohn; Geringverdiener; Reformpolitik; Arbeitsanreiz; Arbeitslosengeld II; Verteilungseffekte; Wohngeld (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 72 pages
Date: 2018-12-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ger
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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