Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/185398 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 7200
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
How effective are effort targets? This paper provides novel evidence on the effects of job search requirements on effort provision and labor market outcomes. Based on large-scale register data, we estimate the returns to required job search effort, instrumenting individual requirements with caseworker stringency. Identification is ensured by the conditional random assignment of job seekers to caseworkers. We find that the duration of un- and non-employment both decrease by 3% if the requirement increases by one monthly application. When instrumenting actual applications with caseworker stringency, an additionally provided monthly application decreases the length of spells by 4%. In line with theory, we further find that the effect of required effort decreases in the individual's voluntary effort. Finally, the requirement level causes small negative effects on job stability, reducing the duration of re-employment spells by 0.3% per required application. We find a zero effect on re-employment wages.
Subjects: 
effort targets
job search behavior
unemployment insurance
incentives
JEL: 
J64
J65
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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