The Impact of the Generosity of Unemployment Benefits on Estonian Labour Market Outcomes in a Period of Crisis
Date
2012-05-28
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Abstract
Uuringus analüüsitakse töötushüvitiste mõju töötuse kestusele ja töötusjärgsele hõivele Eestis möödunud globaalse majanduskriisi perioodil. Tulemused näitavad, et töötushüvitiste maksmine pikendab töötuse kestust oluliselt isegi väga halva tööturuolukorra tingimustes. Samas aitavad töötushüvitised kaasa sellele, et inimesed leiaksid endale sobivama töökoha. Seega ei pruugi töötuse kestuse pikenemine tuleneda ainult sellest, et inimeste tööotsimise aktiivsus oleks hüvitise saamise ajal madalam, vaid ka sellest, et inimestel on võimalik valida just sobilikum töökoht (näiteks vastab paremini kvalifikatsioonile).
Võttes lühidalt kokku analüüsi tulemused, võiks kaaluda Eesti töötushüvitiste süsteemi heldemaks muutmist (eelkõige võiks pikendada potentsiaalset hüvitiseperioodi, kuivõrd seda analüüsitakse töös detailsemalt). Samas, tuginedes eelnevatele uuringutele, võib olla samal ajal mõistlik suurendada töötushüvitiste süsteemis ka tööotsingute monitooringu ja sanktsioneerimise taset. Ehk kui praeguses süsteemis on raske hüvitisele kvalifitseeruda, kuid kerge hüvitisel püsida, võiks süsteemi muuta nii, et hüvitisele kvalifitseerumine oleks lihtsam, kuid sellel püsimine raskem.
The study analyses the effects of unemployment benefits on unemployment duration and post-unemployment employment in Estonia during the recent global economic crisis. The results indicate that the receipt of unemployment benefits increases unemployment duration significantly even during a very severe recession. However, unemployment benefits support also job search and the unemployed can find a job that suits them better. Hence, unemployment duration might not lengthen only because of lower job search activity, but also because the unemployed have a possibility to choose a job that is for them of higher quality (e.g. the tasks match the skills better). In short, the analyses presented in the thesis suggest that there might be welfare effects if the system of unemployment benefits in Estonia were made more generous, particularly in terms of the potential benefit period, which is analysed more thoroughly. However, from previous studies conducted in other countries, it can be concluded that it might be reasonable to increase monitoring and sanctioning in the Estonian unemployment benefit system too, so that instead of the current situation where it is hard to start receiving benefits and easy to stay on benefits, the system should be changed so that it would be easier to start receiving benefits, but harder to stay on benefits.
The study analyses the effects of unemployment benefits on unemployment duration and post-unemployment employment in Estonia during the recent global economic crisis. The results indicate that the receipt of unemployment benefits increases unemployment duration significantly even during a very severe recession. However, unemployment benefits support also job search and the unemployed can find a job that suits them better. Hence, unemployment duration might not lengthen only because of lower job search activity, but also because the unemployed have a possibility to choose a job that is for them of higher quality (e.g. the tasks match the skills better). In short, the analyses presented in the thesis suggest that there might be welfare effects if the system of unemployment benefits in Estonia were made more generous, particularly in terms of the potential benefit period, which is analysed more thoroughly. However, from previous studies conducted in other countries, it can be concluded that it might be reasonable to increase monitoring and sanctioning in the Estonian unemployment benefit system too, so that instead of the current situation where it is hard to start receiving benefits and easy to stay on benefits, the system should be changed so that it would be easier to start receiving benefits, but harder to stay on benefits.
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töötuabiraha, tööpuudus, tööotsimine, tööturg, Eesti, unemployment assistance, unemployment, job searching, labour market, Estonia