Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/33357 
Year of Publication: 
2006
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 2100
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Having faced high unemployment rates for more than a decade, the German government implemented a comprehensive set of labour market reforms during the period 2003-2005. This paper describes the economic and institutional context of the German labour market before and after these so-called Hartz reforms. Focussing on active policy measures, we delineate the rationale for reform and its main principles. As results of programme evaluation studies post-reform have become available just now, we give a first assessment of the effectiveness of key elements of German ALMP before and after the Hartz reforms. The evidence indicates that the re-organisation of public employment services was mainly successful, with the exception of the outsourcing of services. Re-designing training programmes seems to have improved their effectiveness, while job creation schemes continue to be detrimental for participants' employment prospects. Wage subsidies and start-up subsidies show significantly positive effects. On balance, therefore, the reform seems to be moving the German labour market in the right direction.
Subjects: 
Active Labour Market Policy
labour market reform
programme evaluation
JEL: 
J0
J68
J88
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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