Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2014
Publication Title
American Economic Journal - Economic Policy
Department
Department of Economics
Abstract
We exploit a cohort discontinuity in the stringency of Dutch disability reforms to estimate the effects of decreased DI (disability insurance) generosity on behavior of existing recipients. We find evidence of social support substitution: individuals on average offset €1.00 of lost DI benefits by collecting €0.30 more from other social assistance programs, but this benefit-substitution effect declines over time. Individuals also exhibit a rebound in earnings: earnings increase by €0.62 on average per euro of lost DI benefits and this effect remains roughly constant over time. This is strong evidence of substantial remaining earnings capacity among long-term claimants of DI.
DOI
10.1257/pol.6.4.34
Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation
Borghans, Lex; Gielen, Anne C.; and Luttmer, Erzo F. P., "Social Support Substitution and the Earnings Rebound: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity in Disability Insurance Reform" (2014). Dartmouth Scholarship. 2351.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/2351