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Activating unemployed workers works; Experimental evidence from Denmark

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  • Graversen, Brian Krogh
  • van Ours, Jan C.

Abstract

In a field experiment in two Danish counties about half of the unemployed workers were randomly assigned to a mandatory activation program. Analyzing data from this experiment we show that activation can be very effective in reducing unemployment durations.

Suggested Citation

  • Graversen, Brian Krogh & van Ours, Jan C., 2008. "Activating unemployed workers works; Experimental evidence from Denmark," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 100(2), pages 308-310, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:100:y:2008:i:2:p:308-310
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Graversen, Brian Krogh & van Ours, Jan C., 2006. "How to Help Unemployed Find Jobs Quickly: Experimental Evidence from a Mandatory Activation Program," IZA Discussion Papers 2504, IZA Network @ LISER.
    2. Dolton, Peter & O'Neill, Donal, 1996. "Unemployment Duration and the Restart Effect: Some Experimental Evidence," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(435), pages 387-400, March.
    3. Dan A. Black & Jeffrey A. Smith & Mark C. Berger & Brett J. Noel, 2003. "Is the Threat of Reemployment Services More Effective Than the Services Themselves? Evidence from Random Assignment in the UI System," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(4), pages 1313-1327, September.
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    1. van Ours, Jan C. & Krogh Graversen, Brian, 2009. "How a Mandatory Activation Program Reduces Unemployment Durations; the Effects of Distance," CEPR Discussion Papers 7233, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Pernilla Andersson Joona & Lena Nekby, 2012. "Intensive Coaching of New Immigrants: An Evaluation Based on Random Program Assignment," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 114(2), pages 575-600, June.
    3. Chiara Panari & Michela Tonelli & Greta Mazzetti, 2020. "Emotion Regulation and Employability: The Mediational Role of Ambition and a Protean Career among Unemployed People," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-13, November.
    4. Graversen, B.K. & van Ours, J.C., 2009. "How a Mandatory Activation Program Reduces Unemployment Durations : The Effects of Distance," Other publications TiSEM 0071ddbd-1c91-4a52-b1ac-5, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    5. Blasco, Sylvie & Pertold-Gebicka, Barbara, 2013. "Employment policies, hiring practices and firm performance," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 12-24.
    6. Theodoropoulos, Nikolaos & Voucharas, Georgios, 2023. "Firm Closures and Labor Market Policies in Europe: Evidence from Retrospective Longitudinal Data," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1288, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    7. Cheung, Maria & Egebark, Johan & Forslund, Anders & Laun, Lisa & Rödin, Magnus & Vikström, Johan, 2019. "Does job search assistance reduce unemployment? Experimental evidence on displacement effects and mechanisms," Working Paper Series 2019:25, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    8. Jonas Maibom & Michael Rosholm & Michael Svarer, 2017. "Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Early Meetings and Activation," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 119(3), pages 541-570, July.
    9. Vikström, Johan & Rosholm, Michael & Svarer, Michael, 2013. "The effectiveness of active labor market policies: Evidence from a social experiment using non-parametric bounds," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 58-67.
    10. Maibom, Jonas, 2021. "The Danish Labor Market Experiments: Methods and Findings," Nationaløkonomisk tidsskrift, Nationaløkonomisk Forening, vol. 2021(1), pages 1-21.
    11. Sørensen, Kenneth Lykke, 2016. "Heterogeneous impacts on earnings from an early effort in labor market programs," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 266-279.
    12. Rosholm, Michael, 2008. "Experimental Evidence on the Nature of the Danish Employment Miracle," Working Papers 08-14, University of Aarhus, Aarhus School of Business, Department of Economics.
    13. Forslund, Anders & Laun, Lisa & Vikström, Johan & Egebark, Johan & Rödin, Magnus & Cheung, Maria, 2020. "Implementation of a labor market program with more frequent meetings in Sweden," Working Paper Series 2020:22, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    14. Melaine Cervera & Céline Emond & Renaud Hourcade & Céline Jung & Rémi Le Gall, 2018. "Mesurer les effets de l’accompagnement social ? Les principaux enseignements d’une revue de littérature," Post-Print hal-01827546, HAL.

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