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Out of the low-income trap(!) – The ifo proposal for reforming the basic income support system

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  • Maximilian Joseph Blömer
  • Clemens Fuest
  • Andreas Peichl

Abstract

The ifo Institute has drawn up a proposal for reforming the basic income support system by improving employment incentives. Germany’s existing Hartz IV income guidelines prefer small jobs in which workers earn up to 100 euros a month. In addition, it is rarely worthwhile for them to work longer hours and increase their gross income. Furthermore, Hartz IV recipients are subject to implicit marginal tax rates of 80–100%. The ifo Institute’s reform concept proposes reducing the implicit marginal tax burden in the low-income sector to 60% for people who earn 630 euros per month or more. Improving the incentive structures would make it easier for those affected to achieve independence from benefits by themselves than they could under the current guidelines.

Suggested Citation

  • Maximilian Joseph Blömer & Clemens Fuest & Andreas Peichl, 2019. "Out of the low-income trap(!) – The ifo proposal for reforming the basic income support system," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 72(04), pages 34-43, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:72:y:2019:i:04:p:34-43
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    6. Christian Breuer, 2019. "Dilemma Hartz IV: Geringverdiener entlasten [Hartz IV dilemma: Relief for low-income earners]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 99(2), pages 82-83, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kerstin Bruckmeier & Jürgen Wiemers, 2022. "Neuregelung der Hinzuverdienstmöglichkeiten für Transferbeziehende: keine leichte Aufgabe [New Regulations on Supplementary Income for Transfer Recipients: a Great Challenge]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 102(2), pages 90-94, February.
    2. Maximilian Joseph Blömer & Andreas Peichl, 2020. "Who Has an Incentive to Work? Participation Tax Rates of the German Tax-Transfer System," ifo Forschungsberichte, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 118.
    3. Eigenhüller, Lutz, 2019. "Service- und Beratungsstellen für Haushaltsnahe Dienstleistungen : Ein Modellprojekt zur Entwicklung des Arbeitsmarkts für haushaltsnahe Dienstleistungen," IAB-Forschungsbericht 201903, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    4. Clemens Fuest, 2021. "Finanzpolitik in der neuen Legislaturperiode: Auf wirtschaftliche Erholung und Wachstum setzen!," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 101(10), pages 754-758, October.
    5. Friedrich Breyer, 2022. "Mehr Anreize, weniger Sanktionen: Vorschlag für eine Reform der Grundsicherung [More Incentives — Less Sanctions: a Proposal for a Reform of the Welfare System]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 102(8), pages 629-634, August.
    6. Maximilian Blömer & Clemens Fuest & Andreas Peichl, 2022. "Aus Hartz IV wird Bürgergeld — nur alter Wein in neuen Schläuchen? [From “Hartz IV” to “Bürgergeld” — Merely Old Wine in New Bottles?]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 102(2), pages 78-81, February.
    7. Maximilian Joseph Blömer & Clemens Fuest & Andreas Peichl, 2019. "The ifo proposal for reforming the welfare system - additional results," ifo Forschungsberichte, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 99.

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    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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