Arbeitspapier

Unemployment insurance in high informality countries

Providing unemployment insurance is particularly problematic in countries with high informality because workers can claim unemployment benefits and work in the informal sector at the same time. This paper proposes a method to evaluate alternative schemes to provide insurance for unemployed individuals. First, it presents an economy that can be calibrated to reproduce key features of the economy for which the reform will be evaluated. Then, it shows how the implementation of an unemployment insurance savings account (UISA) scheme can be evaluated. The method is applied to Mexico, and the results show how the UISA scheme would eliminate incentives for participation in the informal sector. The implementation of the UISA would imply large welfare gains from the ex-ante perspective.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: IDB Working Paper Series ; No. IDB-WP-403

Classification
Wirtschaft
Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
Social Security and Public Pensions
Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
Subject
Unemployment
insurance
Mexico
informality

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Espino, Emilio
Sanchez, Juan M.
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
(where)
Washington, DC
(when)
2013

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Espino, Emilio
  • Sanchez, Juan M.
  • Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Time of origin

  • 2013

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