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The subsidy trap : explaining the unsatisfactory effectiveness of hiring subsidies for the senior unemployed

Axana Dalle (UGent) , Elsy Verhofstadt (UGent) and Stijn Baert (UGent)
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Abstract
To extend the labour market participation of seniors, numerous countries provide subsidies to incentivise their recruitment or employment. Prior research demonstrates that the effectiveness of such subsidies is rather unsatisfactory, although the reasons for this inadequacy remain unclear. Therefore, we examined negative employer perceptions triggered by eligibility for such subsidies that might explain this disappointing effectiveness. To this end, we set up a vignette experiment in which 292 genuine recruiters assessed fictitious candidates on their hireability and underlying productivity estimations. These candidates differed experimentally in their eligibility for a hiring subsidy targeted at the unemployed aged 58 or over. Our results indicate that the subsidy has a negative effect on their hiring outcomes. This adverse effect is explained by negative perceptions that counteract the financial incentive. Specifically, the subsidised candidates signal lower physical and technological skills along with an augmented difficulty in hiring and labour inspection.
Keywords
Hiring discrimination, Senior workers, Labour market programmes, Hiring, subsidy, Signalling effect, Vignettes, WAGE SUBSIDIES, EMPLOYMENT, FIELD, DISCRIMINATION, EMPLOYERS, AGE, VIGNETTE, IMPACT, POLICY, SIGNAL

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Citation

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MLA
Dalle, Axana, et al. “The Subsidy Trap : Explaining the Unsatisfactory Effectiveness of Hiring Subsidies for the Senior Unemployed.” JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION, vol. 227, 2024, doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106713.
APA
Dalle, A., Verhofstadt, E., & Baert, S. (2024). The subsidy trap : explaining the unsatisfactory effectiveness of hiring subsidies for the senior unemployed. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION, 227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106713
Chicago author-date
Dalle, Axana, Elsy Verhofstadt, and Stijn Baert. 2024. “The Subsidy Trap : Explaining the Unsatisfactory Effectiveness of Hiring Subsidies for the Senior Unemployed.” JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION 227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106713.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Dalle, Axana, Elsy Verhofstadt, and Stijn Baert. 2024. “The Subsidy Trap : Explaining the Unsatisfactory Effectiveness of Hiring Subsidies for the Senior Unemployed.” JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION 227. doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106713.
Vancouver
1.
Dalle A, Verhofstadt E, Baert S. The subsidy trap : explaining the unsatisfactory effectiveness of hiring subsidies for the senior unemployed. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION. 2024;227.
IEEE
[1]
A. Dalle, E. Verhofstadt, and S. Baert, “The subsidy trap : explaining the unsatisfactory effectiveness of hiring subsidies for the senior unemployed,” JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION, vol. 227, 2024.
@article{01JBH67D0S75X5ZVYYAF4R1ZS6,
  abstract     = {{To extend the labour market participation of seniors, numerous countries provide subsidies to incentivise their recruitment or employment. Prior research demonstrates that the effectiveness of such subsidies is rather unsatisfactory, although the reasons for this inadequacy remain unclear. Therefore, we examined negative employer perceptions triggered by eligibility for such subsidies that might explain this disappointing effectiveness. To this end, we set up a vignette experiment in which 292 genuine recruiters assessed fictitious candidates on their hireability and underlying productivity estimations. These candidates differed experimentally in their eligibility for a hiring subsidy targeted at the unemployed aged 58 or over. Our results indicate that the subsidy has a negative effect on their hiring outcomes. This adverse effect is explained by negative perceptions that counteract the financial incentive. Specifically, the subsidised candidates signal lower physical and technological skills along with an augmented difficulty in hiring and labour inspection.}},
  articleno    = {{106713}},
  author       = {{Dalle, Axana and Verhofstadt, Elsy and Baert, Stijn}},
  issn         = {{0167-2681}},
  journal      = {{JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR & ORGANIZATION}},
  keywords     = {{Hiring discrimination,Senior workers,Labour market programmes,Hiring,subsidy,Signalling effect,Vignettes,WAGE SUBSIDIES,EMPLOYMENT,FIELD,DISCRIMINATION,EMPLOYERS,AGE,VIGNETTE,IMPACT,POLICY,SIGNAL}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{17}},
  title        = {{The subsidy trap : explaining the unsatisfactory effectiveness of hiring subsidies for the senior unemployed}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106713}},
  volume       = {{227}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}

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