Financial Incentives and Earnings of Disability Insurance Recipients: Evidence from a Notch Design

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Year: 2019
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
Pages: 269-300

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Most countries reduce disability insurance (DI ) benefits for beneficiaries earning above a specified threshold. Such an earnings threshold generates a discontinuous increase in tax liability—a notch—and creates an incentive to keep earnings below the threshold. Exploiting such a notch in Austria, we provide transparent and credible identification of the effect of financial incentives on DI beneficiaries' earnings. Using rich administrative data, we document large and sharp bunching at the earnings threshold. However, the elasticity driving these responses is small. Our estimate suggests that relaxing the earnings threshold reduces fiscal cost only if program entry is very inelastic.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejpol:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:269-300
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29