The perceived fair duration of unemployment benefits for older workers. The role of lifetime achievements in the labour market

Senghaas M, Osiander C, Struck O, Wolff R, Stephan G (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

International Journal of Social Welfare Wiley-Blackwell

DOI: 10.1111/ijsw.12558

Abstract

The welfare state regulates social policies and reallocates scarce resources. For the social legitimacy of the welfare state, it is important that the public supports the principles underlying this reallocation. This article examines the impact of different activities during the life course on public deservingness perceptions of older unemployed people. In a factorial survey experiment conducted among a random sample of individuals drawn from German administrative employment records, we examine the maximum duration of benefit receipt which is perceived as fair for older unemployed persons with different biographies. The results indicate strong public support for a nexus between previous contributions and benefit entitlements. Besides financial contributions to unemployment insurance, parenting and further training are considered to be 'lifetime achievements' which justify longer unemployment benefit receipt. We interpret these findings as an expression of a generalised form of reciprocity which guides perceptions of deservingness regarding older unemployed persons.

Authors with CRIS profile

Gesine Stephan

Involved external institutions

Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB) der Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA) DE Germany (DE) Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Senghaas, M., Osiander, C., Struck, O., Wolff, R., & Stephan, G. (2022). The perceived fair duration of unemployment benefits for older workers. The role of lifetime achievements in the labour market. International Journal of Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12558

MLA:

Senghaas, Monika, et al. "The perceived fair duration of unemployment benefits for older workers. The role of lifetime achievements in the labour market." International Journal of Social Welfare (2022).

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