Almost twice as many unemployed per vacancy in the East than in the West
Hans-Ulrich Brautzsch
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 11,
2004
Abstract
The article describes the current situation in the East German labour market. This labour market has been increasingly in disequilibrium. More than 2 million competitive jobs are missing. The job gap is twice as high as the West German figure.
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Hartz IV: 1-Euro-Jobs setzen falsche Anreize
Herbert Buscher
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 11,
2004
Abstract
The paper analyzes the different incentives due to different possibilities of additional earnings to the receipt of unemployment benefits. Long term unemployed people may earn additional income due to a regular occupation in the first labor market or due to social work. In the latter case people receive a expense allowance which they are allowed to hold for the full amount. Contrary to this income earned in a regular job is partly reduced (by 85 % for the first 400 Euro, e.g.) which might make working in the social or common sector more attractive than working in the first labor market. Secondly, given the unemployment benefits and the additional amount of earnings it might be more attractive with respect to total income than the income earned in the low wage sector of the economy. This might imply a negative incentive for those who are working in a low wage sector.
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The new social benefits scheme (Arbeitslosengeld II) and the Municipal Option Act
Herbert Buscher
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 9,
2004
Abstract
One of the most important reform measures of the German labor market relates to the harmonization of social welfare and unemployment assistence to the new ‘”Arbeitslosengeld-II”. In the context of these reform measures it is expected that local employment offices and local authorities should constitute working parties to facilitate the unemployed in finding new jobs. In the case that a local authority prefers to manage this job in its own responsibility she has the right to opt. The paper discusses possible advantages and disadvantages of this option.
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Current Trends: number of registered unemployed persons in Germany from EU acceding countries and candidates very low
Hans-Ulrich Brautzsch
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 7,
2004
Abstract
Die Zahl der sozialversicherungspflichtig beschäftigten Ausländer in Deutschland aus den Beitrittsländern und Beitrittskandidaten ist sehr gering: Nur etwa 102 000 SV-pflichtig Beschäftigte in Westdeutschland und knapp 6 000 in Ostdeutschland kamen Mitte des Jahres 2003 aus den Beitrittsländern. Dies entsprach lediglich 0,5% der Arbeitnehmer in Westdeutschland und 0,1% in Ostdeutschland. In Westdeutschland stammten mehr als 90% dieser Beschäftigten aus Polen, Tschechien, Ungarn und der Slowakei, in Ostdeutschland waren es 95%. Aus Bulgarien und Rumänien kamen knapp 29 000 SV-pflichtig Beschäftigte in Westdeutschland und 1 100 in Ostdeutschland. Damit hatten in Westdeutschland 0,1% und in Ostdeutschland 0,03% der Beschäftigten die Staatsangehörigkeit der Beitrittskandidaten.
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Panel Seasonal Unit Root Test With An Application for Unemployment Data
Christian Dreger, Hans-Eggert Reimers
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 191,
2004
Abstract
In this paper the seasonal unit root test of Hylleberg et al. (1990) is generalized to cover a heterogenous panel. The procedure follows the work of Im, Pesaran and Shin (2002). Test statistics are proposed and critical values are obtained by simulations. Moreover, the properties of the tests are analyzed for di®erent deterministic and dynamic specications. Evidence is presented that for a small time dimension the power is slow even for increasing cross section dimension. Therefore, it seems necessary to have a higher time dimension than cross section dimension. The new test is applied for unemployment behaviour in
industrialized countries. In some cases seasonal unit roots are detected. However, the null hypotheses of panel seasonal unit roots are rejected. The null hypothesis of a unit root at the zero frequency is not rejected, thereby supporting the presence of hysteresis effects.
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Evaluation of Further Training Programmes with an Optimal Matching Algorithm
Eva Reinowski, Birgit Schultz, Jürgen Wiemers
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 188,
2004
Abstract
This study evaluates the effects of further training on the individual unemployment duration of different groups of persons representing individual characteristics and some aspects of the economic environment. The Micro Census Saxony enables us to include additional information about a person's employment history to eliminate the bias resulting from unobservable characteristics and to avoid Ashenfelter's Dip. In order to solve the sample selection problem we employ an optimal full matching assignment, the Hungarian algorithm. The impact of participation in further training is evaluated by comparing the unemployment duration between participants and non-participants using the Kaplan-Meier-estimator. Overall, we find empirical evidence that participation in further training programmes results in even longer unemployment duration.
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Gibt es eine Lohnkurve in den neuen Bundesländern?
Herbert Buscher
Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (MittAB) Nr. 4,
2003
Abstract
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Unemployment benefit II - Comments on the merging of unemployment benefits and public assistance
Herbert Buscher
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 6,
2003
Abstract
The paper discusses the consequences of the planned reform of the unemployment security system, namely the new unemployment benefits II which consists of the former “Arbeitslosenhilfe“ and of transfers from the social welfare system. The paper calculates the expected reductions in public spending and relates a part of this amout to a possible reduction in labour unit costs and its consequences for employment.
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Employment chances deteriorate upon participation in job creating and structural adjustment schemes - Or are there exceptions?
Eva Reinowski, Birgit Schultz, Jürgen Wiemers
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 6,
2003
Abstract
In this paper we present the evaluation of the participation effect of Job Creation Schemes (ABM) and Structural Adjustment Schemes(SAM) on unemployment probability. The focus is on special groups which differ in individual characteristics. We found a strong negative treatment effect with gradual differences between separate groups.
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Current economic situation: German economy continues to stagnate
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 4,
2003
Abstract
This forecast updates the IWH Economic Outlook 2003. Amid the threatening war with Iraq, the sharply increased oil prices and the continued Euro appreciation, the economic forecast for Germany is lowered. Gross domestic product is will rise by 0.8% in 2003 and by 2.1% in the following year. Due to the weak economy, the downward pressure on employment continues to increase. Unemployment in 2003 and 2004 will clearly surpass the 4 million mark.
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