Research Catalog
A Good Time for Making Work Pay? Taking Stock of In-Work Benefits and Related Measures across the OECD
- Title
- A Good Time for Making Work Pay? Taking Stock of In-Work Benefits and Related Measures across the OECD [electronic resource] / Herwig Immervoll and Mark Pearson
- Author
- Immervoll, Herwig.
- Publication
- Paris : OECD Publishing, 2009.
Available Online
Details
- Additional Authors
- Pearson, Mark.
- Description
- 61 p.; 21 x 29.7cm.
- Summary
- The twin problem of in-work poverty and persistent labour market difficulties of low-skilled individuals has been one of the most important drivers of tax-benefit policy reforms in OECD countries in recent years. Employment-conditional cash transfers to individuals facing particular labour-market challenges have been a core element of "make-work-pay" policies for some time and are now in use in more than half of the OECD countries. They are attractive because they redistribute to low-income groups while also creating additional work incentives. But like all social benefits, they have to be financed, which creates additional economic costs for some. This paper discusses the rationale for in-work benefits (IWB), summarises the main design features of programmes operated in OECD countries, and provides an update of what is known about their effectiveness in terms of reducing inequalities and creating employment. As policies aiming to promote self-sufficiency, wage subsidies and minimum wages share a number of the objectives associated with IWB measures. We review evidence on the effectiveness of minimum wages and wage subsidies and discuss links between these policies and IWBs. Finally, we outline some potential consequences of weakening labour markets for the effectiveness of make-work-pay policies.
- Series Statement
- OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, 1815-199X ; no.81
- Uniform Title
- OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, no.81.
- Subject
- Social Issues/Migration/Health
- LCCN
- 10.1787/225442803245
- OCLC
- oecd-lib-002672
- Author
- Immervoll, Herwig.
- Title
- A Good Time for Making Work Pay? Taking Stock of In-Work Benefits and Related Measures across the OECD [electronic resource] / Herwig Immervoll and Mark Pearson
- Imprint
- Paris : OECD Publishing, 2009.
- Series
- OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, 1815-199X ; no.81OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, 1815-199X ; no.81.
- Connect to:
- Indexed Term
- Social Issues/Migration/Health
- Added Author
- Pearson, Mark.
- Other Standard Identifier
- 10.1787/225442803245 doi