The distribution of unemployment duration in our equilibrium matching model with spell-dependent unemployment benefits … aggregate unemployment rate. Structural estimation using a German micro-data set (SOEP) allows us to discuss the effects of a … recent unemployment benefit reform (Hartz IV). The reform reduced unemployment by only 0.3%. Contrary to general beliefs, we …

We investigate how continental European unemployment can be reduced without reducing unemployment benefits and without … reducing the net income of low-wage earners. Lower unemployment replacement rates reduce unemployment, the net wage and … unemployment benefits. A lower tax on labour increases net wages and - for certain benefit-systems - unemployment benefits as well …