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454 - Benchmarking Unemployment Benefit Systems

Author(s): Klara Stovicek, Alessandro Turrini, European Commission

Benchmarking Unemployment Benefit Systemspdf(495 kB) Choose translations of the previous link 

This paper proposes a methodology for benchmarking unemployment benefits systems, with a view to assess reform needs and priorities.

Summary for non-specialistspdf(159 kB) Choose translations of the previous link 

This paper proposes a methodology for benchmarking unemployment benefits systems, with a view to assess reform needs and priorities. The methodology permits to assess different dimensions of unemployment benefit systems and to consider alternative relevant benchmarks. Looking at all relevant dimensions allows to better gauge how unemployment benefit systems perform in terms of their multi-faceted objectives (such as income support and stabilisation, incentives to take up work) and to have a more thorough assessment of each objective. Comparisons with alternative benchmarks offer the possibility of assessing against more meaningful country comparators, which take into account similarities in terms of economic fundamentals, institutions and policy settings. The methodology is applied to EU countries and results are discussed.
(European Economy. Economic Papers 454. May 2012. Brussels. PDF. 39pp. Tab. Graph. Bibliogr. Free.)

KC-AI-12-454-EN-N (online)
ISBN 978-92-79-22975-6 (online)
doi: 10.2765/26084 (online)

JEL classification: J65, J68, H20, H53

Economic Papers are written by the staff of the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, or by experts working in association with them. The Papers are intended to increase awareness of the technical work being done by staff and to seek comments and suggestions for further analysis. The views expressed are the author’s alone and do not necessarily correspond to those of the European Commission.

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