Westminster Applied Evaluation Workshop

A series of seminars organised by Policy Studies Institute and
the Centre for Employment Research

session eight: Wednesday 16 June, 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Does the order and timing of active
labour-market programmes matter?

Professor Dr. Michael Lechner
University of St. Gallen

Abstract

This paper extends the traditional focus of active labour-market policy evaluation from a static comparison of participation in a programme versus nonparticipation (or participation in another programme) to the evaluation of the effects of programme sequences, i.e. multiple participation or timing of such programmes. Explicitly allowing for dynamic selection into different stages of such programme sequences, we analyse multiple programmes, the timing of programmes, and the order of programmes. The analysis is based on comprehensive administrative data on the Austrian labour force.

Our findings suggest that (i) active job search programmes are more effective after a qualification programme compared to the reverse order, that (ii) multiple participation in qualification measures dominates single participation, and that (iii) the effectiveness of several labour market programmes deteriorates the later they start during an unemployment spell.

Venue:

Auditor/L, HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2BQ

Directions:

Multimap

Nearest tube stations: Westminster, St James's Park

Further information

Please contact Stefan Speckesser.