CeDEx workshop - Steffen Altmann (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract:

We report the results of a field experiment in which we study how information provision affects job seekers’ labor market outcomes. In our experiment, treated individuals receive a brochure that contains information on research results regarding job search and the non-pecuniary consequences of (un)employment, and encourages them to actively look for a new position. We evaluate the causal impact of the brochure using administrative data on individuals’ earnings and employment spells. While the point estimates are positive in both dimensions, the effects are relatively small and generally insignificant for our overall sample. The brochure, however, does have significantly positive effects for the subgroup of job seekers whose ex-ante labor market prospects are particularly bad. Within this group, treated individuals work about 4-8 days more and earn roughly 450-800 euros more over the year after the intervention.