The Curse and Blessing of Training the Unemployed in a Changing Economy: The Case of East Germany after Unification

51 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2005

See all articles by Michael Lechner

Michael Lechner

University of St. Gallen - Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research

Ruth Miquel

University of St. Gallen - Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economic Research

Conny Wunsch

University of Basel; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); University of St. Gallen

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: July 2005

Abstract

We analyse the effects of government-sponsored training for the unemployed conducted during East German transition. For the microeconometric analysis, we use a new, large and informative administrative database that allows us to use matching methods to reduce potential selection bias, to study different types of programmes, and to observe interesting labour market outcomes over eight years. We find that, generally, all training programmes under investigation increase long-term employment prospects and earnings. However, as an important exception, the longer training programmes are on average not helpful for their male participants. At least part of the explanation for this negative result is that caseworkers severely misjudged the structure of the future demand for skills.

Keywords: active labour market policy, nonparametric identification, matching estimation, causal effects, programme evaluation, panel data, gender differences

JEL Classification: J68

Suggested Citation

Lechner, Michael and Miquel, Ruth and Wunsch, Conny, The Curse and Blessing of Training the Unemployed in a Changing Economy: The Case of East Germany after Unification (July 2005). IZA Discussion Paper No. 1684, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=770124 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.770124

Michael Lechner (Contact Author)

University of St. Gallen - Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research ( email )

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St. Gallen, 9000
Switzerland
+41 71 224 2320 (Phone)

Ruth Miquel

University of St. Gallen - Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economic Research ( email )

Dufourstr. 48
St. Gallen, 9000
Switzerland

Conny Wunsch

University of Basel ( email )

Petersplatz 1
Basel, CH-4003
Switzerland

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

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Bonn, D-53072
Germany

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute) ( email )

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

University of St. Gallen ( email )

Dufourstrasse 50
St. Gallen, 9000
Switzerland

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