Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/36272 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 4291
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
While financial incentives usually have a significant effect on the labor supply of married women and single mothers, the evidence about the participation elasticity of childless singles, and single males especially, is more scant. This is, however, important in countries like France and Germany, where single individuals constitute the core of social assistance recipients. As yet, there is no conclusive evidence about whether, and to what extent, this group is affected by the financial disincentives embedded in the generous redistributive programs in place in these countries. In this paper, we exploit a particular feature of the main welfare scheme in France (Revenu Minimum d'Insertion, RMI), namely that childless adults under age 25 are not eligible for it. Using a regression discontinuity approach and the French micro-census data, we find that the RMI reduces the employment of uneducated single men by 7%-10%. Important policy implications are drawn.
Subjects: 
Regression discontinuity
welfare
social assistance
labor supply
JEL: 
H52
J21
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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