A Letter and Encouragement: Does Information Increase Postsecondary Enrollment of UI Recipients?

Andrew Barr and Sarah Turner

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, 42-68

Abstract: For individuals who experience job loss, enrollment in postsecondary programs may provide an opportunity to improve future employment outcomes. However, decisions to enroll may be hampered by insufficient information about the benefits and costs and the necessary steps and assistance available to facilitate such investments. Using variation in the dissemination and timing of letters sent to Unemployment Insurance (UI) recipients containing this information, we find that individuals sent the information are 40 percent more likely to enroll. These findings suggest that well coordinated information interventions delivered with institutional support may be more effective than raising the generosity of existing government programs in increasing participation.

JEL-codes: E24 E32 I23 I26 J24 J31 J65 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
Note: DOI: 10.1257/pol.20160570
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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Related works:
Working Paper: A Letter and Encouragement: Does Information Increase Post-Secondary Enrollment of UI Recipients? (2017)
Working Paper: A Letter and Encouragement: Does Information Increase Post-Secondary Enrollment of UI Recipients? (2017)
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