We evaluate a comprehensive activation program in Norway targeted at hard-to-employ social assistance claimants with reduced work capacity. The program offers a combination of tailored rehabilitation, training, and job practice, and a generous, stable, and non-means-tested benefit. Its primary aims are to mitigate poverty and subsequently promote self-supporting employment. Our evaluation strategy exploits a geographically staggered program introduction, and the causal effects are identified on the basis of changes in employment prospects that coincide with local program implementation in a way that correlates with the predicted probability of becoming a participant. We find that the program raised employment prospects considerably Url or DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/pol.20140334 Authors Knut Roed Simen Markussen Country Norway Publication Year 2016 Ranges Intervention Intervention Start Year 2007 Intervention End Year 2013 Evaluation Evaluation Start Year 2008 Evaluation End Year 2013 Policy field Labour market services Counselling and monitoring Training Classroom/vocational training On-the-job training Other intervention types Target group Labour market status Low-skilled unemployed Vulnerable groups Other disadvantaged Details Funding Source Other Outcome Variable Employment status Income/wages Data Source Administrative Evaluation Method Regression IV
