Erwerbstätige im unteren Einkommensbereich stärken

Abstract

"Employed persons with low earnings living in low-income households can receive social benefits in addition to their earned income. The three most important means-tested benefits available for low-wage earners in Germany are social assistance for individuals capable of working (Arbeitslosengeld II), housing allowance (Wohngeld) and the enhanced child allowance (Kinderzuschlag). There exists a distinct overlap between these three benefit programs, which creates a complex benefit structure with high marginal tax rates, which negatively affects the individual labour supply. Additionally, the three programmes are characterised by high rates of non-take-up, indicating that the effectiveness of the programs in reaching their target groups could be improved. Using the microsimulation model of the IAB (IAB-MSM), which is based on representative panel data, we analyse the outcomes of implementing an in-work benefit designed close to social assistance, which addresses the weaknesses of the existing system. We compare labour supply, distributional as well as fiscal effects with a benchmark scenario, a set of policy changes the German government has recently agreed on. The results show that the in-work-benefit is well targeted to low-income households." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bruckmeier, K., Mühlhan, J. & Wiemers, J. (2018): Erwerbstätige im unteren Einkommensbereich stärken. Ansätze zur Reform von Arbeitslosengeld II, Wohngeld und Kinderzuschlag. (IAB-Forschungsbericht 09/2018), Nürnberg, 72 p.