Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: van Landeghem, Bert
Author-workplace-name: RS: GSBE DUHR
Author-Name: Cörvers, Frank
Author-workplace-name: ROA / Human capital in the region, RS: GSBE DUHR, RS: SBE - MACIMIDE
Author-Name: de Grip, Andries
Author-workplace-name: Research Centre for Educ and Labour Mark, RS: GSBE DUHR
Title: Is there a rationale to contact the unemployed right from the start? Evidence from a natural field experiment
Abstract: Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs) 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 intervention. In a field experiment in a public employment office in Flanders, a random selection of clients were invited for a mandatory information session in the first month of the unemployment spell, while the control group were invited after four months of unemployment. Although the average intention-to-treat effect we find is not significant, the early intervention appears to be very beneficial for those with low education.
Classification-JEL: d04,d61,j64,j68
Series: ROA Research Memoranda
Creation-Date: 20160101
Number: 011
File-URL: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/files/5593522/ROA_RM_2016_11.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 282798
Handle: Repec:unm:umaror:2016011
DOI: 10.26481/umaror.2016011