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Labor market reforms: An evaluation of the Hartz policies in Germany

Bradley, Jake; Kügler, Alice

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Authors

Alice Kügler



Abstract

How do workers and firms respond to comprehensive labor market reforms? We use detailed micro data to analyze the German Hartz Reforms through the lens of a structural model of the labor market. These reforms aimed at reducing unemployment, by increasing working hour flexibility, job matching and work incentives. In our setting, reforms directly affect the model parameters, which are estimated using matched data on 430,000 workers in 340,000 firms. Contrary to previous findings, our analysis shows that, although the reforms shortened the typical duration of unemployment, they did not reduce unemployment as a whole and led to a decline in wages. Low-skilled workers suffered the most in terms of employment and wage losses. Furthermore, we decompose the contribution of each reform wave to employment and wage changes, finding that the reduction in generosity of unemployment benefits was the principle driver in reducing wages.

Citation

Bradley, J., & Kügler, A. (2019). Labor market reforms: An evaluation of the Hartz policies in Germany. European Economic Review, 113, 108-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2018.12.008

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 23, 2018
Online Publication Date Jan 11, 2019
Publication Date Apr 1, 2019
Deposit Date Jul 29, 2019
Publicly Available Date Jan 12, 2021
Journal European Economic Review
Print ISSN 0014-2921
Electronic ISSN 1873-572X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 113
Pages 108-135
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2018.12.008
Keywords Labor market policy; Hartz reforms; Job search; Wages; Employment
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2351568
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014292119300029
Contract Date Jul 29, 2019

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