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Caught in the Trap? The Disincentive Effect of Social Assistance

Author Info

  • Bargain, Olivier

    (University College Dublin (UCD), IZA, the Geary Institute and CHILD)

  • Doorley, Karina

    (University College Dublin (UCD) and CEPS/INSTEAD)

Abstract

While financial incentives usually have a significant effect on the labor supply of married women and single mothers, the evidence about the participation elasticity of childless singles, and single males especially, is more scant. This is, however, important in countries like France and Germany, where single individuals constitute the core of social assistance recipients. As yet, there is no conclusive evidence about whether, and to what extent, this group is affected by the financial disincentives embedded in the generous redistributive programs in place in these countries. In this paper, we exploit a particular feature of the main welfare scheme in France (Revenu Minimum d'Insertion, RMI), namely that childless adults under age 25 are not eligible for it. Using a regression discontinuity approach and the French micro-census data, we find that the RMI reduces the employment of uneducated single men by 7%-10%. Important policy implications are drawn.

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Paper provided by IRISS at CEPS/INSTEAD in its series IRISS Working Paper Series with number 2009-10.

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Length: 32 pages
Date of creation: Aug 2009
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:irs:iriswp:2009-10
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Keywords: Regression discontinuity ; Welfare ; Social Assistance ; Labour Supply;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
  • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
  • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure

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Cited by:

  1. Verme, Paolo, 2009. "Happiness, Deprivation and the Alter Ego," IRISS Working Paper Series 2009-18, IRISS at CEPS/INSTEAD.

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