A new targeting - a new take-up? Non-take-up of social assistance in Germany after social policy reforms

Arbeitspapier

We present first estimates of rates of non-take-up for social assistance in Germany after the implementation of major social policy reforms in 2005. The analysis is based on a microsimulation model, which includes a detailed description of the German social assistance programme. Our findings suggest a moderate decrease in non-take-up compared to estimates before the reform. In order to identify the determinants of claiming social assistance, we estimate a model of take-up behaviour which considers potential endogeneity of the benefit level. The estimations reveal that the degree of needs, measured as the social assistance benefit level a household is eligible for, and the expected duration of eligibility are the key determinants of the take-up decision, while costs of claiming seem to play a minor role.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IAB-Discussion Paper ; No. 10/2011

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs ; Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents: Household ; Statistical Simulation Methods: General
• Subject: Non-Take-Up ; Social Assistance ; Microsimulation ; Sozialhilfe ; Hartz-Reform ; Sozialhilfeempfänger ; Mikrosimulation ; Schätzung ; Deutschland

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bruckmeier, Kerstin ; Wiemers, Jürgen
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB)
• (where): Nürnberg
• (when): 2011

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/57445
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET