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Contribution to Book
Cost-Effectiveness of Targeted Reemployment Bonuses
Upjohn Institute Working Papers
  • Christopher J. O'Leary, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
  • Paul T. Decker, Mathematica Policy Research
  • Stephen A. Wandner, U.S. Dept. of Labor
Upjohn Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3372-7527

Publication Date
8-1-2003
Series
Upjohn Institute Working Paper No. 03-51R
**Published Version**
In Journal of Human Resources 40(1): 270-279
DOI
10.17848/wp03-51R
Abstract

Targeting reemployment bonus offers to unemployment insurance (UI) claimants identified as most likely to exhaust benefits is estimated to reduce benefit payments. We show that targeting bonus offers with profiling models similar to those in state Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services systems can improve cost effectiveness. Since estimated average benefit payments do not steadily decline as the eligibility screen is gradually tightened, we find that narrow targeting is not optimal. The best candidate is a low bonus amount with a long qualification period, targeted to the half of profiled claimants most likely to exhaust their UI benefit entitlement.

Issue Date
August 2003
Note
An update of W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research staff working paper no. 98-51, issued in 1998 under the title Reemployment Bonuses and Profiling.
Sponsorship
Funding provided by Mathematica Policy Research, the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
Citation Information
O'Leary, Christopher J., Paul T. Decker, and Stephen A. Wandner. 2003. "Cost-Effectiveness of Targeted Reemployment Bonuses." Upjohn Institute Working Paper No. 03-51R. Kalamazoo, MI: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.