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Macroeconomic Effects of UI Extensions at Short and Long Durations

Author

Listed:
  • Acosta, Miguel

    (Federal Reserve Board)

  • Mueller, Andreas I.

    (University of Zurich)

  • Nakamura, Emi

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Steinsson, Jón

    (UC Berkeley)

Abstract

We study the macroeconomic effects of unemployment insurance (UI) benefit extensions in the United States at short and long durations. To do this, we develop a new state level dataset on trigger variables for UI extensions and a "UI benefit calculator" based on detailed legislative and administrative sources spanning five decades. Our identification approach exploits variation across states in the options governing the Extended Benefits program. We find that UI extensions during time periods when UI benefit durations are already long—such as in the Great Recession—have minimal effects. However, UI extensions when initial durations are shorter have substantial effects on the unemployment rate and the number of people receiving UI. Through the lens of a search-and-matching model, we show that our estimates are consistent with microeconomic estimates of the duration elasticity to UI, implying small general equilibrium effects of UI extensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Acosta, Miguel & Mueller, Andreas I. & Nakamura, Emi & Steinsson, Jón, 2023. "Macroeconomic Effects of UI Extensions at Short and Long Durations," IZA Discussion Papers 16400, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. David Autor & David Dorn & Gordon Hanson & Maggie R. Jones & Bradley Setzler, 2024. "Places versus People: The Ins and Outs of Labor Market Adjustment to Globalization," Working Papers 24-78, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    3. Erik Dasenbrock & Britta Gehrke, 2025. "Unemployment Benefits and Interest Rates: The Role of Age," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0074, Berlin School of Economics.
    4. Wee, Shu Lin, 2025. "Optimal unemployment insurance with multiple applications," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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