Bridging the intention-behavior gap? The effect of plan-making prompts on job search and employment

Martin Abel, Rulof Burger, Eliana Carranza and Patrizio Piraino

No 11/2018, Working Papers from Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics

Abstract: We test the effects of plan-making on job search and employment. In a field experiment with unemployed youths, participants who complete a detailed job search plan increase the number of job applications submitted (15%) but not the time spent searching, consistent with intention-behavior gaps observed at baseline. Job seekers in the plan-making group diversify their search strategy and use more formal search channels. This greater search efficiency and effectiveness translate into more job offers (30%) and employment (26%). Weekly reminders and peer-support sub-treatments do not improve the impacts of plan-making, suggesting that limited attention and accountability are unlikely mechanisms.

Keywords: Action Plan; Job Search; Active Labor Market Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 D91 J64 J68 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-lab and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.ekon.sun.ac.za/wpapers/2018/wp112018/wp112018.pdf First version, 2018 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Bridging the Intention-Behavior Gap? The Effect of Plan-Making Prompts on Job Search and Employment (2019)
Working Paper: Bridging the intention-behavior gap ? the effect of plan-making prompts on job search and employment (2017)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sza:wpaper:wpapers304

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Working Papers from Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Melt van Schoor ().