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Is There a Rationale to Contact the Unemployed Right from the Start? Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment

Author

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  • van Landeghem, Bert

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Cörvers, Frank

    (ROA, Maastricht University)

  • de Grip, Andries

    (ROA, Maastricht University)

Abstract

Active Labour Market Policies often exclusively target towards the long-term unemployed. Although it might be more efficient to intervene earlier in order to prevent long-term unemployment rather than to cure it, the climate of austerity in Eurozone countries is spreading a tendency to further reduce the basic counselling for those who become unemployed. This study investigates the impact on employment chances of a relatively light and inexpensive programme that is offered right after the start of the unemployment spell. It comprises of a collective information session followed by a short one-on-one interview. In a field experiment carried out with an employment office in Flanders, a random selection of clients (the treatment group) were invited to the programme within one month after being enrolled as unemployed, while the control group were scheduled to have the information session five months after becoming unemployed. We find a substantial intention- to-treat effect in the first four months after the start of the unemployment spell, and the early intervention seems especially beneficial for those with low education.

Suggested Citation

  • van Landeghem, Bert & Cörvers, Frank & de Grip, Andries, 2016. "Is There a Rationale to Contact the Unemployed Right from the Start? Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 9627, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9627
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    Cited by:

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    3. Amelie Schiprowski, 2020. "The Role of Caseworkers in Unemployment Insurance: Evidence from Unplanned Absences," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 38(4), pages 1189-1225.
    4. Dohmen, Thomas & van Landeghem, Bert, 2019. "Numeracy and Unemployment Duration," IZA Discussion Papers 12531, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Muriel Dejemeppe & Daniel Dumont & Marc Zune, 2016. "Avis sur l’évaluation de la mise en œuvre du contrat de gestion de Bruxelles Formation 2012-2016 et recommandations en vue de l’élaboration du contrat de gestion 2017-2021," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/266352, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    6. Ulrike Huemer & Rainer Eppel & Marion Kogler & Helmut Mahringer & Lukas Schmoigl & David Pichler, 2021. "Effektivität von Instrumenten der aktiven Arbeitsmarktpolitik in unterschiedlichen Konjunkturphasen," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 67250, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    unemployment; Active Labour Market Policies; nudging; natural field;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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