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Self-regulation Training and Job Search Behavior: A Natural Field Experiment Within an Active Labor Market Program

Author

Listed:
  • Berger, Eva M.
  • Hermes, Henning

    (Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

  • Koenig, Guenther
  • Schmidt, Felix
  • Schunk, Daniel

Abstract

Existing evidence suggests that self-regulation plays an important role in the job search process and labor market reintegration of unemployed persons. We conduct a randomized natural field experiment embedded in an established labor market reactivation program to examine the causal effect of conducting self-regulation training on the job search behavior of long-term unemployed participants. Our treatment involves teaching a self-regulation strategy based on mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII). We find that the treatment has a positive effect on the quality of application documents as well as on the probability of participants submitting their documents on time. However, we do not find a positive effect on labor market reintegration—possibly due to the short-term horizon of the data. Because the intervention is very low cost, a rollout to other programs might have high individual and social rates of return.

Suggested Citation

  • Berger, Eva M. & Hermes, Henning & Koenig, Guenther & Schmidt, Felix & Schunk, Daniel, 2019. "Self-regulation Training and Job Search Behavior: A Natural Field Experiment Within an Active Labor Market Program," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 13/2019, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:nhheco:2019_013
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    active labor market policy; natural field experiment; job search behavior; unemployed; self-regulation; non-cognitive skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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