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Money Matters: Evidence from a Large-Scale Randomized Field Experiment with Vouchers for Adult Training

Author

Listed:
  • Messer, Dolores

    (University of Bern)

  • Wolter, Stefan C.

    (University of Bern)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a randomized experiment analyzing the use of vouchers for adult training. In 2006, 2,400 people were issued with a training voucher which they were entitled to use in payment for a training course of their choice. User behavior was compared with a control group of 14,000 people. People in the treatment and in the control group were not aware at any time that they were part of an experiment. The experiment shows that the voucher had a significant causal impact on participation in training modules. Nevertheless, the increase was partially offset by a deadweight loss in excess of fifty percent.

Suggested Citation

  • Messer, Dolores & Wolter, Stefan C., 2009. "Money Matters: Evidence from a Large-Scale Randomized Field Experiment with Vouchers for Adult Training," IZA Discussion Papers 4017, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Blog mentions

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    1. Cheques formación a parados, una buena idea
      by Javier J Navarro in Elblogsalmon on 2015-03-01 21:01:30
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      by Florentino Felgueroso in Nada Es Gratis on 2015-01-15 13:10:12

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Schlotter & Guido Schwerdt & Ludger Woessmann, 2011. "Econometric methods for causal evaluation of education policies and practices: a non-technical guide," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 109-137.
    2. Ruud Gerards & Andries de Grip & Maaike Witlox, 2014. "'Employability-miles' and worker employability awareness," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(9), pages 952-965, March.
    3. Sascha O. Becker & Dolores Messer & Stefan C. Wolter, 2013. "A Gift is Not Always a Gift: Heterogeneity and Long-term Effects in a Gift Exchange Experiment," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 80(318), pages 345-371, April.
    4. Christian Keuschnigg & Mirela Keuschnigg & Christian Jaag, 2011. "Aging and the Financing of Social Security in Switzerland," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 147(II), pages 181-231, June.
    5. Bussink, Henri & ter Weel, Bas, 2023. "Costs and benefits of an individual learning account (ILA): A simulation analysis for the Netherlands," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    6. Eric Schuss, 2021. "Beyond Windfall Gains: The Redistribution of Apprenticeship Costs and Vocational Education of Care Workers," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0176, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW), revised May 2023.
    7. repec:zbw:rwirep:0144 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Görlitz, Katja, 2010. "The effect of subsidizing continuous training investments -- Evidence from German establishment data," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 789-798, October.
    9. Katja Görlitz, 2009. "The Effect of Subsidizing Continuous Training Investments - Evidence from German Establishment Data," Ruhr Economic Papers 0144, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
    10. Bussink, Henri & ter Weel, Bas, 2022. "Costs and Benefits of an Individual Learning Account (ILA): A Simulation Analysis for the Netherlands," IZA Discussion Papers 15649, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Sascha Becker & Dolores Messer & Stefan C. Wolter & Sascha O. Becker, 2011. "A Gift is not Always a Gift: Gift Exchange in a Voucher Experiment," CESifo Working Paper Series 3488, CESifo.
    12. Hidalgo, Diana & Oosterbeek, Hessel & Webbink, Dinand, 2014. "The impact of training vouchers on low-skilled workers," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 117-128.
    13. Giulio Pedrini, 2017. "Law and economics of training: a taxonomy of the main legal and institutional tools addressing suboptimal investments in human capital development," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 83-105, February.
    14. Allen, J.P. & van der Velden, R.K.W., 2012. "Skills for the 21st century: implications for education," Research Memorandum 043, Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR).
    15. Eric Schuss, 2023. "Beyond windfall gains: The redistribution of apprenticeship costs and vocational education of care workers," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(359), pages 978-1002, July.
    16. Poeschel, Friedrich, 2014. "Assignment vs. choice: lessons from training vouchers," VfS Annual Conference 2014 (Hamburg): Evidence-based Economic Policy 100606, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    17. Dolores Messer & Guido Schwerdt & Ludger Woessmann & Stefan C. Wolter, 2013. "Labor Market Effects of Adult Education Vouchers: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0094, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    18. EFI - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (ed.), 2012. "Research, innovation and technological performance in Germany - EFI Report 2012," Reports on Research, Innovation and Technological Performance in Germany, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin, volume 127, number 2012e, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    field experiment; voucher; adult education; training; Switzerland;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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