Estimating Incentive and Welfare Effects of Non-Stationary Unemployment Benefits

Andrey Launov () and Klaus Wälde

No 2010020, LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES from Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES)

Abstract: The distribution of unemployment duration in our equilibrium matching model with spell-dependent unemployment benefits displays a time-varying exit rate. Building on Semi-Markov processes, we translate these exit rates into an expression for the aggregate unemployment rate. Structural estimation using a German micro-data set (SOEP) allows us to discuss the effects of a recent unemployment benefit reform (Hartz IV). The reform reduced unemployment by only 0.3%. Contrary to general beliefs, we find that both employed and unemployed workers gain (the latter from an intertemporal perspective). The reason is the rise in the net wage caused by more vacancies per unemployed worker.

Keywords: Non-stationary unemployment benefits; endogenous effort; matching model; structural estimation; Semi-Markov process (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C13 E24 J64 J68 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 43
Date: 2010-05-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab and nep-mac
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Journal Article: ESTIMATING INCENTIVE AND WELFARE EFFECTS OF NONSTATIONARY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS (2013)
Working Paper: Estimating Incentive and Welfare Effects of Non-Stationary Unemployment Benefits (2010)
Working Paper: Estimating Incentive and Welfare Effects of Non-stationary Unemployment Benefits (2010)
Working Paper: Estimating Incentive and Welfare Effects of Non-Stationary Unemployment Benefits (2010)
Working Paper: Estimating Incentive and Welfare Effects of Non-Stationary Unemployment Benefits (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctl:louvir:2010020

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