Report based on a study conducted for the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Bonn 2014 (133 pages), short overview published in: Die Volkswirtschaft, 5-2014, 52-54 (<a href="http://www.dievolkswirtschaft.ch/files/editions/201405/pdf/22_Arni_Wunsch_DE.pdf">German</a> | <a href="http://www.dievolkswirtschaft.ch/files/editions/201405/pdf/22_Arni_Wunsch_FR.pdf">French</a>)

This paper demonstrates how economic theory can be combined with state-of-the-art empirics to make quantitative statements about optimal policy. Using a large administrative data set for West Germany as well as nonparametric and semiparametric estimation techniques, I parameterize the model...

We provide new evidence on the effectiveness of West German labour market programmes by evaluating training and employment programmes that have been conducted 2000-2002 after the first large reform of German labour market policy in 1998. We employ exceptionally rich administrative data that...

Using exceptionally rich linked administrative and survey information on German welfare recipients we investigate the health effects of transitions from welfare to employment and of assignments to welfare-to-work programmes. Applying semi-parametric propensity score matching estimators we find...

"We reconsider the evidence of Lechner, Miquel and Wunsch (2004, 2005) on the effectiveness of training programmes for the unemployed conducted in East and West Germany in the period 1993-1994 by investigating whether, and if so, how overall policy conclusions depend on the particular choice of...

Based on new, exceptionally informative and large German linked employer–employee administrative data, we investigate the question whether the omission of important control variables in matching estimation leads to biased impact estimates of typical active labor market programs for the...