A Letter and Encouragement: Does Information Increase Post-Secondary Enrollment of UI Recipients? / Andrew Barr, Sarah Turner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barr, Andrew.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Turner, Sarah.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w23374.

NBER working paper series no. w23374

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Letter and Encouragement

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2017.

Summary:

For individuals who experience job loss, enrollment in post-secondary programs may provide an opportunity to improve future employment outcomes. However, decisions to enroll may be hampered by insufficient information about the benefits and costs and the necessary steps and assistance available to facilitate such investments. Using variation in the dissemination and timing of letters sent to UI recipients containing this information, we find that individuals sent the information are 40% more likely to enroll. These findings suggest that well-coordinated information interventions delivered with institutional support may be more effective than raising the generosity of existing government programs in increasing participation.

Notes:

Print version record

April 2017.