Caseworker's discretion and the effectiveness of welfare-to-work programs

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bolhaar, Jonneke; Ketel, Nadine; van der Klaauw, Bas
• 署名单位: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Tinbergen Institute; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2019.104080
• 发表日期: 2020
• 关键词: field experiment; Welfare-to-work; Caseworkers

摘要

In this paper we focus on the role of caseworkers in the assignment and take-up of welfare-to-work programs. We conduct a field experiment that generates exogenous variation in the assignment of caseworkers to different policy regimes. The experiment allows us to provide evidence on the effectiveness of welfare-to-work programs and to study how caseworkers exploit their discretion in assigning these programs to welfare recipients. We find substantial heterogeneity in how caseworkers assign welfare-to-work programs. Participation in the experiment and learning about the effectiveness of the different programs do not induce caseworkers to focus more on the effective programs. Obtaining knowledge about welfare-to-work programs is thus not enough to improve policy, also effort on implementation is required. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.