In spite of extensive regulations, Germany’s job offices and their caseworkers have substantial discretion in implementing labor market policies. Based on the analysis of combined survey and administrative data, this study compares the effectiveness of different strategies aimed at...

"The impact of atypical employment on the ability of the labour market to function depends on how it is used. In this paper we first define three motives for the use of atypical employment: adjustment to fluctuations in business activity, improvement of personnel selection by extending...

"The labour force participation of older workers in Germany is low compared with other countries. A decisive factor in this respect is not least the employment decisions made by companies. This paper shows which company characteristics lead to a higher or a lower employment share of older...

"This paper presents recent empirical evidence on the extent and determinants of employment dynamics and job mobility, building on economic theory and German labor market institutions. In particular, it identifies dynamic and immobile segments of the labor market. Conclusions are drawn with...

I38; J64; C31 </AbstractSection> Copyright Boockmann et al.; licensee Springer. 2014

"The introduction of the minimum wage in the German painter and varnisher trade in 2003 is used as a natural experiment to study the effects of minimum wages on wages and employment. We find a significant positive effect on the average hourly wage of skilled workers in East Germany, but not in...

The authors examine job durations of German workers using the Linked Employer-Employee Data of the Institute of Employment Research (LIAB). Results indicate that exit rates are strongly influenced by firm characteristics, such as the existence of works councils and the opportunity for further...

Job search assistance and intensified counseling have been found to be effective for labor market integration by a large number of studies, but the evidence for older and hard-to-place unemployed individuals more specifically is mixed. In this paper we present key results from the evaluation of...

The 2005 reform of the German welfare system introduced two competing organizational models for welfare administration. In most districts, a centralized organization was established where local welfare agencies are bound to central directives. At the same time, 69 districts were allowed to opt...