Fear of stigmatization prevents individuals from claiming benefits

Artikel

The desire to avoid the shame of being dependent on government aid is often cited as a cause of low welfare take-up rates. In contrast to other obstacles, such as transaction costs or a lack of information, little empirical research has been conducted on how stigma affects social benefits take-up. In this Weekly Report, a controlled laboratory experiment is presented whose results support the following hypothesis: potential recipients fear being perceived as low-skilled (ability stigma) or willing to live off others (free-rider stigma). Hence, they choose to forego a beneficial transfer if it must be claimed publicly. The results indicate that increasing the discreetness of the application and payout processes would help dismantle the stigma and thus increase the welfare take-up rate.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Journal: DIW Weekly Report ; ISSN: 2568-7697 ; Volume: 9 ; Year: 2019 ; Issue: 26/27 ; Pages: 215-220 ; Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Wirtschaft ; Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Individual ; Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents: Household ; Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
• Thema: Stigma ; Signaling ; Non-take-up ; Welfare program

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Friedrichsen, Jana ; Schmacker, Renke
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)
• (wo): Berlin
• (wann): 2019

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: doi:10.18723/diw_dwr:2019-26-1
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/201647
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 10.03.2025, 11:45 MEZ