The Economics and Econometrics of Active Labor Market Programs

摘要: Abstract Policy makers view public sector-sponsored employment and training programs other active labor market policies as tools for integrating the unemployed economically disadvantaged into work force. Few sector have received such intensive scrutiny, been subjected to so many different evaluation strategies. This chapter examines impacts of policies, job training, search assistance, subsidies, methods used evaluate their effectiveness. Previous evaluations in OECD countries indicate that these usually at best a modest impact on participants’ prospects. But same time, they also there is considerable heterogeneity programs. For some groups, compelling case can be made generate high rates return, while groups had no may harmful. Our discussion has more general interest. We believe issues arise generally social sciences are easier address elsewhere. As result, major focus this methodological lessons learned from evaluating One most important inherent method choice conducting program evaluations. The between experimental non-experimental or among alternative econometric estimators should guided by underlying economic models, available data, questions being addressed. Too much emphasis placed formulating correcting selection bias too little given quality data. Although it expensive, obtaining better data only way solve problem convincing way. However, not synonymous with experiments. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.