Working Paper: NBER ID: w23374
Authors: Andrew Barr; Sarah Turner
Abstract: 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.
Keywords: postsecondary education; unemployment insurance; information interventions; enrollment; financial aid
JEL Codes: I23; J18; J24; J64
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sending informational letters to UI recipients (J65) | Likelihood of enrolling in postsecondary education (I23) |
| Sending informational letters to UI recipients (J65) | Enrollment behavior among disadvantaged populations (I24) |
| Sending informational letters to UI recipients (J65) | Labor market behavior (J29) |
| Sending informational letters to UI recipients (J65) | Drawing UI benefits in the following year (Y10) |
| Effect of the intervention on women and Black UI recipients (J65) | Enrollment in postsecondary education (I23) |
| Increasing annual aid by $1,000 (I22) | Enrollment in postsecondary education (I23) |