Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15035
Authors: Gerard van den Berg; Christine Dauth; Pia Homrighausen; Gesine Stephan
Abstract: We mailed brochures to 10,000 randomly chosen employed German workers eligible for a subsizided occupational training program called WeGebAU, informing them about the importance of skill-upgrading occupational training in general and about WeGebAU in particular. Using survey and register data, we estimate effects of the information treatment brochure on awareness of the program, on take-up of WeGebAU and other training, and on subsequent employment. The brochure more than doubles awareness of the program. There are no effects on WeGebAU take-up but participation in other (unsubsidized) training increases among employees aged below 45. Short-term labor market outcomes are not affected.
Keywords: employment; wages; skills; randomized controlled trial; information treatment
JEL Codes: J24; J65
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Information treatment (brochure) (L86) | Increased awareness of the wegebau program (R42) |
| Increased awareness of the wegebau program (R42) | Increased training participation (other types of unsubsidized training) (M53) |
| Increased awareness of the wegebau program (R42) | Takeup of the wegebau program (R42) |