Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/236398 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 14367
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We present a meta-analysis on the debate about the "stepping stone vs. dead end" hypothesis related to the causal effect of temporary jobs on future labour market performances. We select academic papers published on international peer-reviewed journals from 1990 until 2021. Among 78 observations from 64 articles, 32% support the hypothesis according to which temporary contracts are a port of entry into stable employment positions, 23% report ambiguous or mixed findings, and the remaining 45% provide evidence in favour of the dead end hypothesis. The results from meta-regressions suggest that the stepping stone effect is more likely to emerge when self-selectivity issues are dealt with, especially when using the timing-of-events approach. The studies focusing on temporary work agency jobs and casual/seasonal jobs detect more easily results in favour of the dead end hypothesis. Finally, in more recent years and when the unemployment rate is larger, the dead end hypothesis is more likely to prevail.
Subjects: 
meta-analysis
labour market
temporary jobs
stepping stones
dead ends
JEL: 
J08
J41
J42
J81
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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