Comparative assessment of activation requirements for unemployment and minimum income benefit recipients

Joanna Mroczka, Daniele Pacifico and Eddie Chen
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Eddie Chen: OECD

No 329, OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: This paper updates previous OECD work on the strictness of activation requirements for benefit recipients, a topic central to the mutual obligations framework that underpins modern social safety nets. It covers multiple tiers of income support for jobseekers, including unemployment insurance, unemployment assistance, and minimum income benefits where relevant. By incorporating new data for 2024, it presents detailed information on job-search reporting procedures, monitoring mechanisms, definitions of suitable work, and sanction rules across OECD and EU countries. The paper also updates the OECD indicator of strictness of activation requirements. This composite indicator summarises complex national rules into a single, standardised measure that enables consistent monitoring and benchmarking across countries. Together with related OECD databases on benefit levels, work incentives for benefit recipients, and spending on active labour market policies, the updated database and strictness indicator support in-depth, evidence-based assessments of recent changes in income support and activation policies.

Keywords: Activation requirements; availability requirements; job-search requirements; Minimum income benefits; monitoring procedures; sanctions; Strictness; Unemployment Benefits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I38 J08 J65 J68 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-12-03
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oec:elsaab:329-en

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