Do case workers help the unemployed? : evidence for making a cheap and effective twist to labor market policies for unemployed workers

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries spend, on average, an equivalent of 0.4% of their gross domestic product on active and passive labor market policies. This is a non-negligible sum, especially in times of strained government budgets. Meetings with case workers - who can provide advice and information on what jobs to look for, and how to search, and give moral support, as well as monitor search intensity - are a simple and effective option for policymakers to help the unemployed find work.