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The use of permanent contracts across Spanish regions: Do regional wage subsidies work?

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  • J. Ignacio García-Pérez

    (Universidad Pablo de Olavide, FCEA and FEDEA)

  • Yolanda F. Rebollo Sanz

    (Universidad Pablo de Olavide)

Abstract

This article evaluates the effectiveness of regional wage subsidies to foster permanent employment using the "Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales". This dataset, which is used here for the first time to evaluate Spanish labour market policy, offers a complete employment history for each individual, with no aggregation bias. The policy analyzed consists of a one-time subsidy offered by some Spanish regions for new permanent contracts signed for certain fixed-term employees and unemployed workers. Because our policy variable presents individual, regional and temporal variation, we apply a triple difference estimator to identify the average treatment effect of this policy. We conclude that the outflow into permanent employment of eligible workers improves only minimally.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Ignacio García-Pérez & Yolanda F. Rebollo Sanz, 2009. "The use of permanent contracts across Spanish regions: Do regional wage subsidies work?," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 33(1), pages 97-130, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:iec:inveco:v:33:y:2009:i:1:p:97-130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Blog mentions

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    1. Políticas activas de empleo: qué funciona y qué se consigue
      by Samuel Bentolila in Nada Es Gratis on 2013-11-12 12:55:33
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      by Samuel Bentolila in Nada Es Gratis on 2011-12-23 13:00:39

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    4. Verónica Escudero, 2018. "Are active labour market policies effective in activating and integrating low-skilled individuals? An international comparison," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-26, December.
    5. Cristina Barceló & Ernesto Villanueva, 2010. "The response of household wealth to the risk of losing the job: evidence from differences in firing costs," Working Papers 1002, Banco de España.
    6. Garcia-Louzao, Jose & Hospido, Laura & Ruggieri, Alessandro, 2023. "Dual returns to experience," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    7. repec:ces:ifodic:v:10:y:2012:i:2:p:18946366 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. J. Ignacio García‐Pérez & Fernando Muñoz‐Bullón, 2011. "Transitions into Permanent Employment in Spain: An Empirical Analysis for Young Workers," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 49(1), pages 103-143, March.
    9. Cueto, Begoña & Patricia, Suárez, 2014. "A review of active and passive labour market policies in Spain," MPRA Paper 60648, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. J Ignacio García-Pérez & Ioana Marinescu & Judit Vall Castello, 2019. "Can Fixed-term Contracts Put Low Skilled Youth on a Better Career Path? Evidence from Spain," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 129(620), pages 1693-1730.
    11. Inmaculada Garcia & Colin Green & Maria Navarro Paniagua, 2012. "New Estimates of the Effect of Temporary Employment on Absenteeism," Working Papers 24151321, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.
    12. Yolanda Rebollo Sanz, 2009. "Landing a Permanent Contract: Do Job Interruptions and Employer Diversification Matter?," Working Papers 09.07, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
    13. Sergi Jiménez Martín & Judit Vall Castello, 2009. "Business Cycle Effects on Labour Force Transitions for Older People in Spain," Working Papers 2009-25, FEDEA.
    14. Cervini-Plá, María & Ramos, Xavier & Ignacio Silva, José, 2014. "Wage effects of non-wage labour costs," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 113-137.
    15. Ignacio García Pérez, J. & Osuna, Victoria, 2014. "Dual labour markets and the tenure distribution: Reducing severance pay or introducing a single contract," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 1-13.
    16. Ildefonso Mendez, 2013. "Promoting permanent employment: lessons from Spain," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 4(2), pages 175-199, June.
    17. Vall Castello, Judit, 2012. "Promoting employment of disabled women in Spain; Evaluating a policy," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 82-91.
    18. Nieto, Adrián, 2022. "Can subsidies to permanent employment change fertility decisions?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    19. Victoria Osuna & Jose-Ignacio García-Pérez, 2012. "The effects of introducing a single open-ended contract in Spain," EcoMod2012 3825, EcoMod.
    20. Rocio Bonet & Cristina Cruz & Daniel Fernández Kranz & Rachida Justo, 2013. "Temporary Contracts and Work—Family Balance in a Dual Labor Market," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(1), pages 55-87, January.
    21. Inmaculada Cebrián & Gloria Moreno & Luis Toharia, 2011. "La estabilidad laboral y los programas de fomento de la contratación indefinida," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 198(3), pages 103-127, September.
    22. Stefano Visintin & Alessandro Gentile, 2013. "Il mercato del lavoro in spagna: criticit? e riforme strutturali in un contesto di crisi economica," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(2), pages 65-85.
    23. Mario García-Ferreira & Ernesto Villanueva, 2007. "Employment risk and household formation: evidence from differences in firing costs," Working Papers 0737, Banco de España.
    24. Yolanda Rebollo Sanz & J. Ignacio García-Pérez, 2009. "Do wage subsidies affect the subsequent employment stability of permanent workers?: the case of Spain," Working Papers 09.18, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
    25. Samuel Bentolila & Juan J. Dolado & Juan F. Jimeno, 2012. "The New New Labour Market Reform in Spain: Objectives, Instruments, and Shortcomings," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 10(2), pages 03-07, 08.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Difference-in-difference-in-difference; causal evaluation analysis; wage subsidies; hiring subsidies.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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