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Kombilohn oder Workfare? Zur Wirksamkeit zweier arbeitsmarktpolitischer Strategien

Author

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  • Bonin, Holger

    (IHS - Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna)

  • Kempe, Wolfram

    (Deutsche Bundesbank)

  • Schneider, Hilmar

    (University of Luxembourg)

Abstract

Das heutige System der sozialen Mindestsicherung verhindert in Deutschland die Ausbildung eines Niedriglohnsektors. Dies ist eine wesentliche Ursache für die hohe Arbeitslosigkeit Geringqualifizierter. Dieser Beitrag stellt zwei häufig genannte Maßnahmen zur Überwindung sozialstaatlicher Beschäftigungsschwellen einander gegenüber. Am Beispiel eines aktuellen, symptomorientierten Vorschlags für Lohnsubventionen durch Absenkung der Arbeitnehmerbeiträge zur Sozialversicherung auf niedrige Einkommen wird gezeigt, dass Förderung kleiner Markteinkommen durch Kombilöhne die Erwerbsbeteiligung nur unwesentlich erhöht. Zugleich können Mitnahmeeffekte entstehen, mit denen unerwünschte Arbeitszeitwirkungen und hohe fiskalische Kosten verbunden sind. Ein alternativer, ursachenorientierter Ansatz ist die Senkung des sozialen Leistungsniveaus durch Workfare. Eine Abschätzung des Einkommenspotenzials von Transferbeziehern auf Grundlage des Sozio-ökonomischen Panels veranschaulicht, dass sich mit der Verpflichtung erwerbsfähiger Sozialhilfeempfänger zu sozial nützlicher Arbeit bei unverändertem Niveau der sozialen Mindestsicherung deutlich positive Beschäftigungseffekte erzielen lassen. Wage Subsidies vs. Workfare: On the Effectiveness of Alternative Strategies to Promote Low-Skilled Employment in Germany The German system of generous subsistence payments to the unemployed generates disincentives for labor supply, preventing employment at low wages. This creates substantial unemployment of the low-skilled. This paper discusses the quantitative effects of two frequent proposals to overcome the work barriers set up by the welfare state. Using a recent concept of raising in-work income through cutting social insurance contributions at low earnings as an example, we illustrate that wage subsidies have negligible impact on labor force participation. In addition, the policy might have costly side effects, as it creates parttime incentives beyond the target group of the low qualified. As an alternative, we assess the labor market impact of a workfare strategy. The potential wages of transfer recipients, estimated on the basis of the German Socio-Economic Panel, suggest that combining social transfers with the obligation to work could substantially improve labor market performance of the employable low-skilled.

Suggested Citation

  • Bonin, Holger & Kempe, Wolfram & Schneider, Hilmar, 2002. "Kombilohn oder Workfare? Zur Wirksamkeit zweier arbeitsmarktpolitischer Strategien," IZA Discussion Papers 587, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp587
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    Cited by:

    1. Berthold, Norbert & von Berchem, Sascha, 2005. "Hartz IV: eine vertane Chance nutzen," Discussion Paper Series 79, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Chair of Economic Order and Social Policy.
    2. Bonin, Holger, 2004. "Lockerung des Kündigungsschutzes: Ein Weg zu mehr Beschäftigung?," IZA Discussion Papers 1106, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Jochen Michaelis & Alexander Spermann, 2009. "Geringqualifizierte Arbeit, Marktlöhne und Sozialpolitik: Konzepte für Deutschland," MAGKS Papers on Economics 200920, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    4. Klaus F. Zimmermann, 2003. "Beschäftigungspotentiale im Niedriglohnsektor," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 72(1), pages 11-24.
    5. Hermann Buslei & Viktor Steiner, 2003. "Anreizwirkungen von Lohnsubventionen: welche Bedeutung haben sie für die aktuelle Reformdiskussion?," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 72(1), pages 94-108.
    6. Hans-Werner Sinn & Christian Holzner & Wolfgang Meister & Wolfgang Ochel & Martin Werding, 2002. "Active Welfare - A path to higher employment and growth," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 55(09), pages 03-52, May.
    7. Boeters Stefan & Gürtzgen Nicole & Schnabel Reinhold, 2006. "Reforming Social Welfare in Germany: An Applied General Equilibrium Analysis," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 7(4), pages 363-388, December.
    8. Koch, Susanne & Stephan, Gesine & Walwei, Ulrich, 2005. "Workfare: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen," IAB-Discussion Paper 200517, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    9. Holger Bonin & Wolfram Kempe & Hilmar Schneider, 2003. "Kombilohn oder Workfare?: Zur Wirksamkeit zweier arbeitsmarktpolitischer Strategien," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 72(1), pages 51-67.
    10. Schneider Hilmar & Zimmermann Klaus F. & Uhlendorff Arne, 2013. "Ökonometrie vs. Projektdesign: Lehren aus der Evaluation eines Modellprojekts zur Umsetzung des Workfare-Konzepts," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 233(1), pages 65-85, February.
    11. Bonin, Holger & Schneider, Hilmar, 2006. "Wirksamkeit der Förderung der beruflichen Weiterbildung vor und nach den Hartz-Reformen," IZA Discussion Papers 2069, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Peichl, Andreas & Schneider, Hilmar & Siegloch, Sebastian, 2010. "Documentation IZA?MOD: The IZA Policy SImulation MODel," IZA Discussion Papers 4865, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Berthold, Norbert & Coban, Mustafa, 2013. "Kombilohn oder Workfare? Wege aus der strukturellen Arbeitslosigkeit auf dem Prüfstand [Wage Subsidy or Workfare? Comparison of Two Designs to Reduce Structural Unemployment]," Discussion Paper Series 122, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Chair of Economic Order and Social Policy.
    14. Graf, Nikolaus & Hofer, Helmut & Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf, 2011. "Labor supply effects of a subsidized old-age part-time scheme in Austria," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 44(3), pages 217-229.
    15. Breyer, Friedrich & Franz, Wolfgang & Homburg, Stefan & Schnabel, Reinhold & Wille, Eberhard, 2004. "Reform der sozialen Sicherung: Kurzfassung," EconStor Books, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, number 92399, October.
    16. Dietz, Martin & Koch, Susanne & Walwei, Ulrich, 2006. "Kombilohn: Ein Ansatz mit Haken und Ösen," IAB-Kurzbericht 200603, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    17. Stefan Boeters & Nicole Gürtzgen & Reinhold Schnabel, 2006. "Reforming Social Welfare in Germany: An Applied General Equilibrium Analysis," German Economic Review, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 7(4), pages 363-388, November.
    18. Koch, Susanne & Stephan, Gesine & Walwei, Ulrich, 2005. "Workfare: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen (Workfare : possibilities and limits)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 38(2/3), pages 419-440.
    19. Koch, Susanne & Stephan, Gesine & Walwei, Ulrich, 2005. "Workfare: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen (Workfare : possibilities and limits)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 38(2/3), pages 419-440.
    20. Koch, Susanne & Stephan, Gesine & Walwei, Ulrich, 2005. "Workfare: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen (Workfare : possibilities and limits)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 38(2/3), pages 419-440.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labor supply; workfare; low-wage subsidies; Germany;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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