TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Andersen, Torben M.
AU  - Svarer, Michael
        TI  - Business Cycle Dependent Unemployment Insurance
        PY  - 2010/Sep/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 5196
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp5196
        AB  - The consequences of business cycle contingencies in unemployment insurance systems are considered in a search-matching model allowing for shifts between “good” and “bad” states of nature. We show that not only is there an insurance argument for such contingencies, but there may also be an incentive argument. Since benefits may be less distortionary in a recession than a boom, it follows that counter-cyclical benefits reduce average distortions compared to state independent benefits. We show that optimal (utilitarian) benefits are counter-cyclical and may reduce the structural (average) unemployment rate, although the variability of unemployment may increase.
        KW  - unemployment benefits
KW  - business cycle
KW  - insurance
KW  - incentives
        ER  -