Designing a good unemployment insurance scheme is a delicate matter. In a system with no or little insurance, households may be subject to a high income risk, whereas excessively generous unemployment insurance systems are known to lead to high unemployment rates and are costly both from a fiscal perspective and for society as a whole. Andreas Pollak investigates what an optimal unemployment insurance system would look like, i.e. a system that constitutes the best possible compromise between income security and incentives to work. Using theoretical economic models and complex numerical simulations, he studies the effects of benefit levels and payment durations on unemployment and welfare. As the models allow for considerable heterogeneity of households, including a history-dependent labor productivity, it is possible to analyze how certain policies affect individuals in a specific age, wealth or skill group. The most important aspect of an unemployment insurance system turns out to be the benefits paid to the long-term unemployed. If this parameter is chosen too high, a large number of households may get caught in a long spell of unemployment with little chance of finding work again. Based on the predictions in these models, the so-called "Hartz IV" labor market reform recently adopted in Germany should have highly favorable effects on the unemployment rates and welfare in the long run.

Discusses the unemployment insurance system in which programmes are operated by each state within the minimum standards established by the federal government.

Report on the problem of the time factor in unemployment benefit for the long term unemployed in the USA - cites the regular duration for benefits as provided by state laws, discusses the provision of extended benefits during economic recessions, the problem of financing such benefits, etc., and considers proposals for extended benefits at all times. References and statistical tables.

Based on presentations at a conference celebrating the federal Unemployment Insurance program's 50th anniversary, these papers describe the history of the program, analyze its shortcomings, delineate current issues of debate, and offer suggestions for the future. Much more interesting than it sounds. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR