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Does Leaving Welfare Improve Health? Evidence for Germany

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Author Info
Martin Huber ()
Michael Lechner ()
Conny Wunsch ()

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Abstract

Using exceptionally rich linked administrative and survey information on German welfare recipients we investigate the health effects of transitions from welfare to employment and of assignments to welfare-to-work programmes. Applying semi-parametric propensity score matching estimators we find that employment substantially increases (mental) health. The positive effects are mainly driven by males and individuals with bad initial health conditions and are largest for males with poor health. In contrast, the effects of welfare-to-work pro-grammes, including subsidized jobs, are ambiguous and statistically insignificant for most outcomes. Robustness checks that include a semi-parametric instrumental variable approach do not provide reasons for concern.

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File URL: http://www.vwa.unisg.ch/RePEc/usg/dp2009/DP-21-Le.pdf
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Department of Economics, University of St. Gallen in its series University of St. Gallen Department of Economics working paper series 2009 with number 2009-21.

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Length: 36 pages
Date of creation: Aug 2009
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:usg:dp2009:2009-21

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Related research
Keywords: Welfare programs; health effects;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, and Vacancies - - - Public Policy
I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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