PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Been, Jim
AU  - Knoef, Marike
TI  - Job-Search Requirements for Unemployed at the End of Working Life
AID  - 10.3368/jhr.52.2.0415-7063R1
DP  - 2017 Mar 31
TA  - Journal of Human Resources
PG  - 491--530
VI  - 52
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/52/2/491.short
4100  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/52/2/491.full
SO  - J Hum Resour2017 Mar 31; 52
AB  - This paper investigates the extent to which job search requirements in unemployment insurance (U.I.) increase the probability of self-employment as a retirement route. For causal identification, we apply a difference-in-differences approach, using a Dutch 2004 policy reform that introduced job-search requirements in U.I. for persons aged 57.5 and older. Unemployment dynamics and self-employment probabilities are studied using a dynamic multinomial logit model with unobserved heterogeneity. The results suggest that job-search requirements stimulated people to exit unemployment and discouraged older workers to enter unemployment. The probability of self-employment as an exit route to retirement increased relative to U.I., but not relative to paid employment.