Safety Nets and Benefit Dependence (39) (Research in Labor Economics) - Hardcover

Social protection systems are intended to support households in financial difficulties, a role that has been underlined during the recent Great Recession in many countries around the world. This volume presents new results on the dynamics of social assistance, minimum-income and related out-of-work benefits in a range of different country contexts. It contains eight original articles, which shed light on benefit spell durations, the movements into and out of receipt of safety net benefits, the individual or family characteristics associated with these movements, the extent of state dependence or 'scarring', and the interaction of various welfare programs. The results establish an evidence base for an informed policy debate in a range of OECD countries. They also provide methodological background for future work on benefit receipt patterns.

During the recent economic downturn social protection systems have played a significant role in responding to the economic difficulties of adversely affected households. Patterns of transitions into and out of benefit receipt are important measures of the effectiveness of social protection systems. This volume contains new research on the dynamics of social insurance. The articles provide evidence on benefit dependence from various countries, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany and the UK, and answers to questions such as: How responsive are social protection systems to labor market shocks? Does participation in temporary assistance programs affect participation in other social insurance programs? Do mandatory activation programs affect the probability of entering and exiting welfare?