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Reemployment Incentives for Unemployment Insurance Beneficiaries: Results from the Washington Reemployment Bonus Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher J. O'Leary

    (W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research)

  • Robert G. Spiegelman
  • Kenneth J. Kline

    (W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research)

Abstract

Unemployment insurance is intended to reduce hardship by providing labor force members with partial wage replacement during periods of involuntary unemployment. However, in performing this income maintenance function, unemployment insurance may prolong spells of unemployment. Evidence from a field experiment conducted in Illinois in 1984 suggested that offering unemployment insurance claimants a modest cash bonus for rapid reemployment would increase the speed of return to work and reduce program costs. In 1988 a similar experiment, examining several different bonus offers, was conducted in Washington State. Evidence from the Washington experiment indicates that bonus offers do change job seeking behavior, but that only relatively generous bonus offers about six times the weekly benefit amount should be expected to significantly change the behavior of persons eligible for unemployment benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher J. O'Leary & Robert G. Spiegelman & Kenneth J. Kline, 1993. "Reemployment Incentives for Unemployment Insurance Beneficiaries: Results from the Washington Reemployment Bonus Experiment," Upjohn Working Papers 93-22, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:upj:weupjo:93-22
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Woodbury, Stephen A & Spiegelman, Robert G, 1987. "Bonuses to Workers and Employers to Reduce Unemployment: Randomized Trials in Illinois," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(4), pages 513-530, September.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    unemployment; insurance; bonus; experiment; Washington; O'Leary;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies

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