Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/21413 
Year of Publication: 
2003
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 762
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Income support for working low income families (the ?working poor?) is on top of the political agenda in Switzerland. The current social assistance system is considered inadequate to support working poor households. Labour unions propose the introduction of a general minimum wage, whereas the Swiss government promotes in-work benefits. Based on a structural labour supply model this paper provides microsimulation results of the effects of introducing different schemes of in-work benefits. It turns out that adding a minimum hours requirement to the current social assistance system is the most cost-efficient reform. Minimum wages are ineffective in fighting poverty.
Subjects: 
tax credits
household labour supply
microsimulation
poverty
JEL: 
I38
C25
J22
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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