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The Impact of Vocational Training for the Unemployed: Experimental Evidence from Turkey

Author

Listed:
  • Hirshleifer, Sarojini

    (University of California, San Diego)

  • McKenzie, David

    (World Bank)

  • Almeida, Rita K.

    (World Bank)

  • Ridao-Cano, Cristobal

    (World Bank)

Abstract

We use a randomized experiment to evaluate a large-scale active labor market policy: Turkey's vocational training programs for the unemployed. A detailed follow-up survey of a large sample with low attrition enables precise estimation of treatment impacts and their heterogeneity. The average impact of training on employment is positive, but close to zero and statistically insignificant, which is much lower than either program officials or applicants expected. Over the first year after training we do find training to have had statistically significant effects on the quality of employment, and that the positive impacts are stronger when training is offered by private providers. However, longer-term administrative data shows that after three years these effects have also dissipated.

Suggested Citation

  • Hirshleifer, Sarojini & McKenzie, David & Almeida, Rita K. & Ridao-Cano, Cristobal, 2014. "The Impact of Vocational Training for the Unemployed: Experimental Evidence from Turkey," IZA Discussion Papers 8059, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8059
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    randomized experiment; active labor market programs; vocational training; private provision;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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