Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers
Creation-Date: 2022-11-13
Number: 22-083/V
Author-Name: Bas van der Klaauw
Author-Workplace-Name: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Author-Name: Heike Vethaak
Author-Workplace-Name: Leiden University
Title: Empirical Evaluation of Broader Job Search Requirements for Unemployed Workers
Abstract: This paper analyses data from a large-scale field experiment where unemployed workers were randomly assigned to an additional caseworker meeting with the purpose to
impose a broader job search strategy. We find that the meeting significantly increases
job finding and is cost effective. However, caseworkers differ substantially in the rate
at which they impose broader job search. We exploit this heterogeneity in caseworker
stringency and the random assignment of unemployed workers to caseworkers within
local offices to evaluate the broader search requirement. Our results show that imposing the broader search requirements reduces job finding. We argue that restricting
the job search opportunities forces unemployed workers to search sub-optimally which
negatively affects labor market outcomes.

Classification-JEL: J22, J64, J65, J68, C93
Keywords: Unemployment, broader job search, caseworker stringency, caseworker meetings, field experiment
File-URL: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/22083.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 992.153 bytes
Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20220083