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Whether, when and how to extend unemployment benefits: Theory and application to COVID-19

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  • Mitman, Kurt
  • Rabinovich, Stanislav

Abstract

We investigate the optimal response of unemployment insurance to economic shocks, both with and without commitment. The optimal policy with commitment follows a modified Baily-Chetty formula that accounts for job search responses to future UI benefit changes. As a result, the optimal policy with commitment tends to front-load UI, unlike the optimal discretionary policy. In response to shocks intended to mimic those that induced the COVID-19 recession, we find that a large and transitory increase in UI is optimal; and that a policy rule contingent on the change in unemployment, rather than its level, is a good approximation to the optimal policy.

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  • Mitman, Kurt & Rabinovich, Stanislav, 2021. "Whether, when and how to extend unemployment benefits: Theory and application to COVID-19," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:200:y:2021:i:c:s0047272721000839
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104447
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    Cited by:

    1. Rees-Jones, Alex & D’Attoma, John & Piolatto, Amedeo & Salvadori, Luca, 2022. "Experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and support for safety-net expansion," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1090-1104.
    2. Pei, Yun & Xie, Zoe, 2022. "Timing and time inconsistency in search models," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. García-Cabo, Joaquín & Lipińska, Anna & Navarro, Gastón, 2023. "Sectoral shocks, reallocation, and labor market policies," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    4. Melosi, Leonardo & Rottner, Matthias, 2020. "Pandemic Recessions and Contact Tracing," CEPR Discussion Papers 15482, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Marinescu, Ioana & Skandalis, Daphné & Zhao, Daniel, 2021. "The impact of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation on job search and vacancy creation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    6. Leonardo Melosi & Matthias Rottner, 2020. "Pandemic Recessions and Contact Tracing," Working Paper Series WP-2020-31, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    7. Harry J. Holzer & Glenn Hubbard & Michael R. Strain, 2024. "Did pandemic unemployment benefits increase unemployment? Evidence from early state‐level expirations," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(1), pages 24-38, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment insurance; Optimal Policy; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government

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